New day, new favourite for Manchester United job as club hierarchy remains split

Former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has emerged as the new bookmakers' favourite to take over at Manchester United, should Michael Carrick be sacked—an increasingly likely scenario. According to The Sun, the Englishman is leading the race, despite reports from The Daily Telegraph yesterday suggesting former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann was the frontrunner. The Daily Mail attributes these conflicting reports to a split within the Old Trafford hierarchy. Transfer director Christopher Vivell is understood to be pushing strongly for his compatriot Nagelsmann, whereas technical director Jason Wilcox—who sits higher in the club's structure—favours an appointment with proven Premier League pedigree. Howe, Fabian Hürzeler, Unai Emery, and Antonio Conte are all on Wilcox's shortlist, though prising Hürzeler and Emery away from Brighton and Aston Villa respectively would prove extremely difficult.

Sources close to Antonio Conte suggest the Italian would be open to the role, but would demand guarantees regarding his authority before agreeing to any move. Conte believes a firm, authoritarian grip is needed in the dressing room, with players held to much higher accountability for results. However, doubts have surfaced among the United hierarchy, where concerns remain over his confrontational style and the potential for friction between the dugout and the boardroom.

Emery would similarly seek complete control over football operations in addition to being currently under contract—a demand incompatible with the executive structure established since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival.

Consequently, Eddie Howe presents the strongest case and commands the broadest support across the upper echelons at Manchester United. Howe guided Newcastle to two Champions League qualifications and ended their 56-year trophy drought by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup. After stepping down in July following a successful five-year spell on Tyneside to take a break from management, the Old Trafford hot seat is expected to be an enticing opportunity for him.

Ironically, Howe was among the candidates recommended by then-sporting director Dan Ashworth following Erik ten Hag's dismissal. At the time, Ratcliffe opted for Rúben Amorim, with Ashworth departing the club just a month later.