Manchester United have not yet sacked Michael Carrick, but the end appears near.

The Red Devils will reportedly assess the future of their head coach during the upcoming international break, and the verdict is unlikely to support the 45-year-old’s case to stay in charge.

United have started the 2026/27 season in horrid form, and sit 17th in the Premier League table after winning just one of their nine games so far.

While Carrick remains in charge, there are a vast number of reports that the club is drawing up a shortlist for the next head coach already.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that Manchester United’s top choice in replacing Michael Carrick would be Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.

The Spaniard recently lifted the Europa League for a record fifth time, as his Aston Villa side beat Freiburg three-nil in the final in May.

Widely viewed as the best manager in the Premier League, which perhaps only Mikel Arteta can have something to say about, Emery would be an enticing option for any club looking to recruit a new head coach.

However, Emery is currently happy at Aston Villa with his managerial dream to win the Champions League, according to The Athletic.

The publication’s Aston Villa reporter Jacob Tanswell writes that the club and co-owner Nassef Sawiris “pine for Emery to create a dynasty, beyond his existing contractual terms – which run until 2029.”

It’s a blow to Manchester United’s hopes of landing Emery, should they look to follow up with their reported high interest in the former Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Villarreal boss.

The club may have to look elsewhere, for somebody like Eddie Howe or Julian Nagelsmann, also both reportedly in their thinking, as free agents who will not have a current employer gripping on to their services.

Changing head coach mid-season is a difficult matter. Whether Manchester United will make the decision to do just that remains to be seen – but things feel to be heading that way.