Candidates to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager believe the dressing room is “out of control” and that players “talk too much”.

Carrick is in charge for United’s game against Bournemouth on Sunday, but pressure is on the head coach with the club understood to be considering their options if they are forced to make a change.

Telegraph Sport revealed Julian Nagelsmann will be a leading candidate to replace Carrick and would listen to an approach if a change is made, while Eddie Howe would be high on the club’s shortlist and has Premier League experience.

It is understood Howe will listen to any approach from Manchester United although he will take some persuading to return to management so quickly after leaving Newcastle United. As things stand, there has been told there has been contact with anyone from Old Trafford.

Howe had initially planned to take an extended break from the game as he wanted to focus on his family and health, but Manchester United are one of only a handful of clubs that could tempt him back into work just three months after quitting at St James’ Park.

It is far from certain that Howe will decide to return to work so soon after leaving Newcastle, especially as he knows he will be the favourite to replace Thomas Tuchel as England manager when the German eventually stands down.

Unai Emery, Antonio Conte and Fabian Hurzeler, who does not have a release clause in his Brighton contract, also have admirers either at United or figures connected to the Old Trafford club.

However, Telegraph Sport understands that more than one of the candidates to potentially replace Carrick at United believe one of the biggest priorities would be to bring the dressing room into line.

Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes have both spoken out against the club’s strategy and the tactics of Carrick and his staff in the space of a week, which has added to the sense of chaos and crisis at United.

A source close to one of United’s managerial candidates said: “It’s clear they need order and discipline. The dressing room is out of control and that is the first thing to fix.”

That view was echoed by a friend of another candidate, who said: “The players talk too much. United is one of the biggest clubs in the world and that has to be respected.”

The noise from inside and outside United has been an issue for a succession of managers and is something the club have struggled to wrestle control of.

Nagelsmann, Howe and Conte are all out of work and immediately available, but Nagelsmann would want assurances over the structure above him having pulled out of the running for the Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea jobs in the past over that issue.

Conte is thought to be interested in the United post, but the club would need to meet certain conditions to appoint him. He posted on social media on Friday about returning to management.

Approaching Emery or Hurzeler would potentially be an incredibly expensive and difficult operation for United, with no guarantee of success.