Howe open to Old Trafford role as United weigh £3m compensation amid Carrick pressure

Eddie Howe has emerged as Manchester United’s leading managerial target, with reports indicating the former Newcastle United head coach would be open to taking charge at Old Trafford — though any appointment would hinge on negotiations and a compensation payment of around £3 million to his current club.

United director of football Jason Wilcox is said to favour Howe above other candidates, and The Guardian reports that initial contact has already been made between the relevant parties. The club would need to agree terms with Newcastle before any formal approach could progress.

The backdrop to the search is a deeply troubled start to the season for Michael Carrick’s side. United have won just once in their first eight Premier League fixtures, leaving them 17th in the table — separated from the relegation zone only by goal difference. Their winless run across all competitions now stretches to nine matches, a sequence that includes Champions League defeats to Atlético Madrid and Como by scorelines of 2-0 and 4-1 respectively.

Back-to-back Premier League losses to Bournemouth and Chelsea have sharpened the scrutiny on Carrick, though United’s hierarchy have so far chosen to keep the 45-year-old in post. Senior figures are reported to have struggled to agree on a successor, and the club is understood to have privately set the November international break as an informal deadline to assess whether a change is required.

Howe is not the only name in the frame. United’s director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, a German himself, is said to be a strong admirer of Julian Nagelsmann and has reportedly made an approach to gauge the former Bayern Munich and Germany head coach’s interest. Vivell and Nagelsmann previously worked together at RB Leipzig.

Despite the pressure, there remains a belief among some at the club that Carrick can reverse the team’s fortunes. He retained the vocal backing of travelling supporters during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, and after the final whistle said: “We’ve got to move forward and win matches — it’s as simple as that.” Carrick also confirmed he would take charge of United’s next European fixture against Roma.

The scale of United’s predicament is underlined by a historical footnote: the club have not dropped into the bottom three beyond August since November 1986, when Ron Atkinson was dismissed.