Three managers reject United as Carrick sack deadline passes with club 17th

Manchester United are stuck in the Premier League relegation zone and without a clear managerial succession plan after three potential replacements for head coach Michael Carrick rejected approaches from the club, with an internal review of Carrick’s position ongoing during the international break.

United’s precarious situation was laid bare on Sunday when they twice fought back from two-goal deficits to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Patrick Dorgu scoring a 96th-minute equaliser. The point still left them 17th, with just eight points from ten league matches — a return no other club in the division has matched for futility. Five of those eight points have come from draws, the only thing separating United from Crystal Palace and Sunderland in the bottom three.

Carrick had been widely expected to lose his job after last month’s 3-0 thrashing at Bournemouth. The club delayed a final decision until after the Villa fixture, but that deadline has now passed without a resolution, and senior figures are continuing discussions throughout the break. United’s next match is away at Liverpool on 22 November.

Should Carrick be dismissed, United have no clear first choice to replace him. Three coaches identified by the hierarchy have already declined to be considered.

Unai Emery, whose Villa side came within minutes of inflicting what could have been a decisive defeat on Carrick’s tenure, had been reported as United’s preferred target. The Spaniard has been transformative at Villa Park, guiding the club to Europa League glory last season, and Villa supporters serenaded him with chants of “10 more years” from the away end on Sunday. Emery, 55, is now in advanced talks to extend his contract beyond its current 2029 expiry date. Even before those negotiations, an approach would have faced significant hurdles: Villa would have demanded substantial compensation, Emery earns £12 million a year, and his preference for wide-ranging control over transfers and key decisions may not have aligned with United’s structure.

France manager Didier Deschamps is also among those who have turned United down, according to reports, though the full picture of the club’s search remains incomplete as talks continue behind the scenes.

With no obvious successor in place and a squad sitting in the relegation zone, United face a difficult fortnight before their season resumes.