Manchester United are expected to sack manager Michael Carrick this week, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.

Following internal talks on Monday, Man United chiefs Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada are expected to recommend the dismissal of the 45-year-old to Sir Jim Ratcliffe in a meeting held in Monaco, GMS understands.

The Red Devils have produced two remarkable comebacks in the last week, coming from 2-0 down to beat AS Roma in the Champions League, and twice coming from two goals down to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday.

However, the point against Unai Emery's men wasn't enough to take United out of the relegation zone, which shows how poor their season has been.

With 10 games played, they have registered just the one victory at home to newly-promoted Ipswich Town, and they could be bottom of the table by the time they kick off against Liverpool in their next match, should Crystal Palace beat Coventry City and Sunderland record at least a draw against Villa.

Wilcox and Berrada have clearly seen enough, having given Carrick a reprieve following the heavy defeats against Como and Bournemouth, and now it will be up to Ratcliffe to make the final decision.

With the expectation that he will leave, GMS revealed that United States manager Mauricio Pochettino is now a leading contender for the job if it becomes available.

• May 2026 — Carrick named permanent Manchester United head coach until 2028 after securing Champions League return.
• August 2026 - United are beaten by newly-promoted Hull City on the opening day of the season.
• October 2026 — United were held 1-1 at home by Leeds, deepening their dismal league form.
• October 2026 — Como thrashed United 4-1 in the Champions League, intensifying pressure on Carrick.
• November 2026 — Carrick expected to be sacked as United remain in the relegation zone.

The Argentine has barely been mentioned among the talk of possible Carrick replacements in recent weeks, but he has now emerged as a strong candidate, with $10m (around £7.5m) needed to activate the release clause in the contract he only signed in August.

The former Tottenham boss isn't the only manager admired, with appreciation at board level for two out-of-work managers in Eddie Howe, who they have held talks with according to Fabrizio Romano, and Julian Nagelsmann too.

Another manager currently available is Antonio Conte, and he is the only frontrunner for the job who would be a better appointment than Pochettino.

Conte is Outstanding Man United Next Manager Choice

The one big concern with Conte is whether he has the patience to first build, and then stick around for, a project at a club, given what we have seen in the past.

However, if United are looking for a manager to make an immediate impact and who is a proven winner, then the Italian is the obvious choice, and he wants the job.

There is no doubt that the 57-year-old would send a much-needed rocket up some Red Devils stars who are performing nowhere near the levels they were in the second half of last season.

He should instantly gain the respect of the squad too, given he has won league titles at Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli.

Conte won those trophies in his first seasons in charge of Chelsea, Juventus and Napoli, proving that he knows how to be successful quickly.

Napoli had finished 10th the season before they won the Scudetto under the Italian manager, so he has shown that a big improvement is possible, as would be needed at Old Trafford if he took the reins now.

Conte can be volatile, but he has the passion and tactical nous to get results and change a team's fortunes, and he is the outstanding choice on the market for many reasons.

Pochettino has clearly shown he is a manager with a big personality who has held down huge jobs, but he doesn't have the proven success of winning trophies like Conte does.