The future is looking bleak for Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, with the Englishman under huge pressure at Old Trafford following their defeat in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils were taken apart by Italian minnows Como, with former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas masterminding an impressive 4-1 win.

It is Como's first season in the Champions League, having been in Italy's second tier Serie B as recently as the 2023/24 campaign. The upturn in fortunes has been extraordinary and is mirrored somewhat by the downturn in form of United under Carrick.

By the end of the 2025/26 season, with Carrick in interim charge for five months, United had the best record of any team in the Premier League, pout-pointing champions Arsenal.

Now he has the job permanently, however, things have gone backwards. Defeat to Como was the Red Devils' seventh successive game without a win. they sit 13th in the Premier League table, just two points off the bottom three, and 20th in the Champions League table, only above the elimination places on goal difference.

Man Utd chiefs have difference of opinion on possible Carrick replacements

The start to the season has led to huge question marks over Carrick's future at the club and a number of managers have been linked with replacing him, should Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS wield the axe.

And transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that one manager flying high in the Premier League has caught the eye.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Fabian Hurzeler is doing fantastic at Brighton. Manchester United have someone on their board who really appreciates Fabian Hurzeler, but that's it at the moment. He's completely focused on Brighton."

It is understood that director of football Jason Wilcox is the man who appreciates the German head coach, who has the Seagulls third in the Premier League after seven games and the highest scorers in the division.

And the Premier League's all-time top scorer Alan Shearer believes it would be a good appointment.

If Carrick is relieved of his duties, Hurzeler would be a good replacement, but it’s a very different model at Brighton.

Former Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has also praised the Seagulls boss, despite being involved in a heated touchline moment with his counterpart during his time at City.

Guardiola said last season: "The director, chairman have done an incredible job there. He's [Hurzeler] doing an incredible job, personality, rhythm, the way they played the last two games is outstanding."

Other names have been linked with the job at United, with Julian Nagelsmann appreciated by United director of recruitment Christopher Vivell. Nagelsmann is out of work after leaving his role as the Germany national team manager following the 2026 World Cup.

Antonio Conte is another name who is out of work that has been linked with the United job a number of times in the past.