Manchester United have doubts about whether to hire Antonio Conte amid the mounting uncertainty over Michael Carrick’s future.
A well-placed source said Conte spent 24 hours in the UK during the recent international break. Sources close to Conte stressed he has not met with figures from United.
Sources in Italy say “doors are closed” from United’s side and believe the club would opt for a different profile of coach due to Conte’s abrasive style. United have not held any formal discussions with Conte.
Brighton coach Fabian Hurzeler is considered the outstanding Premier League candidate by senior figures at United but he would command a hefty compensation fee.
Eddie Howe and Kieran McKenna, both under consideration by United in the past, are available after leaving Newcastle and Ipswich Town in the summer.
McKenna was one of numerous managers who spoke to United in May 2024 as they planned to sack Erik ten Hag before they did a U-turn.
Former United sporting director Dan Ashworth was in favour of hiring Howe after Ten Hag eventually departed in October 2024 but chief executive Omar Berrada pushed through a deal for Ruben Amorim.
Ashworth left United unceremoniously in December 2024 and Ineos director Sir Dave Brailsford, seen as another Howe supporter, exited United after the 2024-25 season.
United are winless in seven games and have won two of their 11 matches this term, having handed Carrick a two-year contract in May.
Conte, 57, is available after leaving Napoli in the summer. The Italian guided Napoli to the 2025 Serie A title and United are audaciously targeting an end to their Premier League title drought in 2028 to commemorate the club’s 150th anniversary.
Conte won the Scudetto with Napoli, Inter Milan and Juventus and is the last manager to guide Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017.
The former Italy coach spent two years at Stamford Bridge, where he also won the FA Cup by beating United in the 2018 final.
Conte has not managed in England since an 18-month spell at Tottenham ended in March 2023.
Spurs qualified for the Champions League in Conte’s first season but fell to eighth the following campaign and Conte blasted the club’s losing culture.
Conte was open to taking over at United in October 2021 amid the club’s spiral under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United were reluctant to appoint as combative a personality as Conte, who ended up replacing Nuno Espirito Santo at Spurs after they lost to United in Solskjaer’s last win in charge.
