MANCHESTER UNITED CONSIDERS FABIAN HURZELER FOR MANAGER ROLE

Journalist Samuel Luckhurst says Manchester United have identified Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler as a possible replacement for Michael Carrick if the club decides to make a change. United have won two matches this season and lost four of their opening nine. Their latest defeat came against Atletico Madrid, who beat them 2-0 in the Champions League. United gave Carrick a permanent two-year contract during the summer.

Luckhurst says United’s shortlist places Hurzeler ahead of other Premier League candidates. Claims circulating this week say former Chelsea and Juventus manager Antonio Conte is “reaching an agreement” with United over a possible appointment. Conte is open to taking charge during the season, according to those claims. Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein say United’s board continues to support Carrick. Ornstein says the board wants improvement from a side sitting 13th in the Premier League.

United face Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday after five matches without a win. Brighton sit third in the Premier League and have won four of their six matches against United since Hurzeler took charge in 2024. Hurzeler has also led Brighton to successive eighth-place finishes. Luckhurst says any attempt to appoint him would carry a substantial cost. INEOS, minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox would face that decision if United chose to replace Carrick.