Michael Carrick's future as Manchester United head coach is hanging by a thread.

United plunged to a new low on Sunday as they were beaten 3-0 at Old Trafford by Bournemouth. The defeat extends their winless run to eight matches and leaves United just above the Premier League relegation zone.

Sky Sports News understands that United's bosses were already considering alternatives for the head coach role even before the defeat to Bournemouth amid the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

The United hierachy will now accelerate that process with an expectation from insiders at the club that Carrick will be relieved of his duties.

That decision will ultimately come down to director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, who will make a recommendation to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Carragher calls for quick decision as fearful Neville predicts sacking

Carrick's position looked to have become untenable as Bournemouth stormed to a deserved victory on Sunday in which United were a distant second-best. With captain Bruno Fernandes benched for the duration of the game following his midweek criticism of Carrick's tactics, United were fortunate to only lose by three goals.

"It is going to get ridiculously difficult for Michael Carrick to be Manchester United manager moving forward. That's the problem the club have got," said Neville during Sky Sports' match commentary. On his podcast, Neville concluded: "They are probably going to sack him. Tomorrow, they will probably make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans but it is probably necessary."

"Michael Carrick needs to be relieved of his duties tonight," added Jamie Carragher. "Not just for the good of Manchester United but also for the good of Michael Carrick. It has become untenable."

Who are the contenders to replace Carrick?

Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett and Dan Khan:

If Carrick is to depart, Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe are the two front runners to take over at Old Trafford. Both are available to start quickly, and neither would require any compensation to be paid. Howe, when he resigned as Newcastle manager in July, said he wanted to take a break from football to recharge his batteries. But Sky Sports News has been told he would be interested in talking to United, should a vacancy become available.

Howe was recommended by United's former sporting director Dan Ashworth as a suitable candidate in the past, having got to know him well during his time at Newcastle. Wilcox, United's current director of football, is thought to favour hiring a coach with Premier League experience.

Nagelsmann is well known to United's head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, after the two men worked closely together at RB Leipzig. The former Bayern Munich boss has been out of work since stepping down as Germany head coach following a disastrous World Cup which saw the side knocked out by Paraguay in the round of 32 in the summer.

Unai Emery and Antonio Conte have also been considered by United as possible replacements, but they aren't thought to be among the current favourites. Emery, we have been told, remains committed to the project at Aston Villa.

But Carragher backing Emery candidature

However, Carragher believes Aston Villa's Unai Emery should be United's first target.

"He is a manager I look at when I think about Manchester United," said Carragher. "I think Emery is the best manager in the Premier League. But I've got this thing with him. Yes, his record in the Europa League is amazing, but surely somebody who is that successful wants to be known in the Champions League.

"He wants to win the Champions League. He's not going to do that at Aston Villa.

"He's had two experiences that haven't gone particularly well for him, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. And I just think surely he would want that opportunity to prove himself at an absolute giant of a football club. Sorry, Villa fans."