Antonio Conte has told Manchester United that he would be willing to replace Michael Carrick as head coach, according to reports.
Carrick enjoyed a brilliant spell as caretaker manager last season, helping United finish third in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League. That form earned him the job on a permanent basis, but many supporters and observers feel United failed to back him properly in the summer transfer market.
United have won just one of their first six Premier League matches this season, collecting only six points from those games. Carrick was already under pressure after a 1-1 draw with ten-man Tottenham at the weekend, and a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League has raised further concerns. Lisandro Martinez was punished in the aftermath of the defeat in Spain after he blamed the club’s poor start to the new season on weak recruitment.
Conte open to a mid-season move
Rumours have circulated for weeks that Conte, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, could take over if United decide to change direction. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Italian is ready to take charge of a historic club as soon as possible.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Antonio Conte is obviously one of the main names we see linked with Manchester United. Conte, Eddie Howe and also Julian Nagelsmann are all managers who are linked with the United job in case they decide to change.
“What I can tell you is that there is still nothing advanced, concrete or serious between Conte and Manchester United. Compared with past situations, when Conte always wanted to wait for a new season and have his own pre-season and squad, this time he would be open to taking a job mid-season. That is not just for United. His idea is to continue in Europe with a historic club. He doesn’t want to go to the Middle East just to get the money and come back to Europe in a few years.
“Again, at the moment, there are no concrete contacts yet with Manchester United.”
Reports suggest Conte is ready
TEAMtalk revealed on Thursday that Conte is ready to take charge of United immediately, and that intermediaries working with him have renewed contact with the club’s hierarchy to reiterate his interest.
talkSPORT has backed up that story, claiming Conte has told United he is open to replacing Carrick at Old Trafford as soon as possible. Its report adds that representatives of Conte have told United they would be interested in taking over should Carrick be sacked.