Reports are already suggesting that the United hierarchy are in agreement that Carrick’s time is coming to an end, with talk of a sacking being imminent. However, there is one thing that the INEOS bigwigs aren’t sure about just yet.

According to respected journalist Romain Molina, United are considering sacking Carrick, but a leak in the boardroom says that the top brass aren’t in agreement as to who should replace him. All manner of names have been mentioned as potential replacements, with Eddie Howe the current bookies’ favourite.

Howe left Newcastle on the eve of the new campaign, claiming he needed a break from top-level football. But just months after walking away from the St. James’ Park outfit, there’s talk of him returning to the Premier League as Carrick’s replacement.

Elsewhere, Julian Nagelsmann also finds himself looking for a new project, with the ex-Bayern Munich chief without a job since leaving Germany following the World Cup. He was replaced by Jurgen Klopp, with Nagelsmann said to have been considered by INEOS before appointing Carrick in the summer.

Meanwhile, Antonio Conte has flirted with the idea of taking over at United, hinting he’d be interested in managing a ‘fallen giant’ in English football. The former Premier League winner has been out of work since the end of last season when he departed Serie A outfit Napoli.

And then there’s Fabian Hurzeler, who has worked wonders with Brighton, and currently has the Seagulls sat third in the table. There have been some suggestions that Hurzeler isn’t interested in the United job, should a vacancy crop up, but that could change if an official approach is made at the end of the season.