Eddie Howe is the current favourite to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United head coach after their 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League.

United endured a miserable night in Lombardy as Cesc Fabregas' side dismantled their defence repeatedly across both halves.

The Serie A side had eight shots on target and could have made the scoreline even worse for United, who scored a consolation goal in second half stoppage time through substitute Joshua Zirkzee. Attention will inevitably be focused on Carrick's position after the defeat, with pressure already having grown on him due to recent results. And there appear to be a number of candidates who could step in to replace him if United make a decision.

Next Man Utd manager odds as clear favourite revealed

As per Oddschecker, former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is the leading contender to take over from Carrick at Old Trafford if a change is made.

According to TEAMtalk, United have held internal discussions about replacing Carrick with Howe, with the report claiming that Howe being a British manager stands in his favour. For his part, Howe is believed to be keen on a return to club management after stepping down as Newcastle head coach at the end of July.

Howe is the 9/4 favourite to take charge of United with several bookmakers, though BetVictor rank Antonio Conte (2/1) at the same odds as Howe to replace Carrick.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann and ex-Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna are also among the leading contenders.

Except Hurzeler, all four of those managers are currently out of work, having all left their previous clubs either at the end of last season, during pre-season or, in Nagelsmann's case, after Germany's unsuccessful World Cup campaign.

More to follow...