Manchester United close to agreement with Antonio Conte as Carrick faces the sack

Manchester United are closing in on an agreement with Antonio Conte to become their next manager, according to Italian outlet Tuttosport, as incumbent Michael Carrick faces the sack after a dismal start to the Premier League season.

Carrick, who signed a permanent contract at Old Trafford over the summer following a successful caretaker spell that ended with a third-place finish last season, has managed only six points from six league games. That run has left United 12 points adrift of the top of the table, and the club are already planning for life beyond the former midfielder.

Tuttomercatoweb reported that Conte is “reaching an agreement” with United, suggesting the two parties are unlikely to encounter significant obstacles in finalising a deal. The Italian had already hinted publicly at his appetite for a return to management, telling The Athletic he was seeking a club with history and genuine ambition.

“There are many clubs that have, in some way, lost sight of their history,” Conte said. “I would like to go to one of those clubs to dust off that history and make it shine again. Clubs where there is pressure, where, ultimately, you know very well that you are not going there just to take part, but to compete.”

Conte’s record at the top level makes him one of the most credentialed candidates available. In 2017, he became only the second manager to win a Premier League title against Pep Guardiola, guiding Chelsea to the championship with a back-three system that reshaped tactical thinking in English football. He departed Stamford Bridge in 2018 after winning the FA Cup in a more turbulent second season.

He returned to England with Tottenham Hotspur midway through the 2021-22 campaign, steering them into the Champions League before leaving the following year. Between his two Premier League postings, Conte also delivered a Serie A title with Inter Milan.

Most recently, he managed Napoli in Serie A, winning the club’s fourth Scudetto before departing after a single season. He has been without a club since.

United’s next fixture is a Champions League trip to Atlético Madrid.