Manchester United chiefs want things to work out for Michael Carrick at Old Trafford, but they are continuing to assess their options if they do need to make a change, according to Sky Sports, following a recent blow involving Unai Emery.

It was a surprise to some that Man United kept the faith with Carrick after the successive heavy defeats to Como and Bournemouth, especially as they followed it up with another loss against Chelsea days later.

Carrick will hope that the turning point of the Red Devils' season finally arrived on Tuesday night when they picked up just their third win of the campaign in all competitions against AS Roma, coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford following a remarkable turnaround.

That was a promising result in Europe for Carrick, but now he needs to take that second-half performance and momentum into the Premier League, given they lie just outside the relegation places on goal difference, having won just once all season.

United host Aston Villa at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday, with the Midlands outfit recently hitting form in the top flight following an underwhelming start to the campaign.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed previously that Villa boss Unai Emery has his admirers within United's hierarchy if they did decide to make a managerial change, with one report claiming that he would be their 'dream' appointment.

However, any desire to bring the Spaniard to Old Trafford has been dealt a blow this week, with the news that the former Arsenal boss is now close to agreeing a new contract to extend his stay at Villa Park.

According to a new report from Sky Sports, while United chiefs continue to back Carrick and want it to work under the man they appointed on a permanent basis in the summer, other managers like Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Fabian Hurzeler remain prominent in their thinking if they do have to sack the 45-year-old.

GMS understands that Hurzeler has no interest in leaving Brighton right now, with the Seagulls currently lying third in the Premier League standings.

United Can Recover From Emery Blow With Howe Appointment

While United remain keen to back Carrick, it is quite ironic that a manager they admire as a future appointment could bring an end to the 45-year-old's reign this weekend.

Defeat to Emery's Villa on Sunday would surely leave Carrick on the brink ahead of a two-week international break, where the Red Devils' hierarchy have more time to consider their next move.

There is no doubting how good Emery has been for Villa, with many suggestions in recent weeks that he is the best manager in the Premier League, despite what Mikel Arteta is currently achieving at Arsenal.

Emery has been more than just a manager or coach at the Midlands outfit, and he has instead been given a major say over everything happening at the club, from recruitment to decisions on the identity of the club's sporting director.

Should United need to make a change in the coming weeks, they won't be getting Emery, but they could land their own version of him in Eddie Howe.

The 48-year-old, described as 'one of the best' by Tim Krul, remains a free agent after leaving Newcastle in the summer, having managed the Magpies for almost five years.

He may not be viewed as being at the same level of Emery, who has many Europa League triumphs behind him, but Howe quickly became the figurehead for a club that was completely transformed under PIF.

• November 2021 — Howe appointed Newcastle head coach, replacing Steve Bruce after the Saudi-backed takeover.
• February 2023 — Howe reached Newcastle's first final in 24 years, losing 2-0 to Manchester United.
• May 2023 — Newcastle finished fourth, returning to the Champions League after two decades away.
• March 2025 — Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley, ending a 70-year trophy wait.
• July 2026 — Howe steps down as Newcastle manager.

Howe led the club to the Champions League just 18 months after taking charge of a club that was battling relegation in the Premier League.

He galvanised players and got the best out of them, he had a system that allowed new signings like Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali to flourish, and he quickly got the whole of St James' Park on side.

Bringing the whole club together was probably one of his biggest achievements during his spell in charge of Newcastle, and it is something that United are crying out for too.