Conte 'ready to accept' United job as Scholes backs Hurzeler to replace Carrick

Antonio Conte is said to be open to taking the Manchester United job, with reports claiming the free-agent former Chelsea and Italy manager would accept an approach from Old Trafford as Michael Carrick’s position comes under increasing scrutiny.

Carrick has overseen just two wins from nine matches across all competitions this season, a run that includes a Champions League defeat at Atlético Madrid on Tuesday. United have already recorded their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years, and Sunday’s derby trip to Leeds is shaping up as a pivotal moment for the manager.

According to Calciomercato, Conte is awaiting contact from the club and would welcome the opportunity to return to management in England. The Italian won the Premier League title with Chelsea in 2017 and later guided Tottenham Hotspur to a top-four finish before his departure in 2023.

Meanwhile, United legend Paul Scholes has publicly endorsed Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler as a serious candidate. Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes said: “He’s done great. He looks the real deal. But again, Man United is different. The scrutiny is on you every single week. If Brighton didn’t win a game for the next 10 games, nobody would really be that bothered.”

Hurzeler, 31, became the youngest manager in Premier League history when he was appointed at Brighton, having previously impressed at St. Pauli. He has guided the Seagulls to consecutive eighth-place Premier League finishes and notably knocked United out of the EFL Cup earlier this season.

Scholes drew a pointed comparison between Hurzeler and Carrick, noting that the Brighton boss has built a sustained body of work in the top flight. “The one thing that someone like Hurzeler has got over Michael is that he’s done a body of work in the Premier League,” Scholes said. “Michael did okay in Middlesbrough with what he had. I think Middlesbrough were probably expecting more with the budget they had.”

Scholes also hinted that Carrick himself may be weighing up his options, suggesting his former team-mate could be considering stepping away from the role given the weight of expectation at Old Trafford.