Manchester United have reportedly made initial contact with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as they prepare for life after Michael Carrick.
Despite helping United secure Champions League football last season as interim manager, Carrick’s tenure as the Red Devils’ permanent manager has started in an unimpressive fashion.
Domestic defeats against Hull City, Manchester City and Brighton have left the club struggling to find their rhythm.
United are now exploring managerial alternatives.
According to Calciomercato, former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Conte has been identified as United’s number one target. The report states that the 57-year-old is currently in pole position to take the reins if Carrick is sacked in the coming months.
United chiefs have reportedly already made initial contact to assess Conte’s availability.
Antonio Conte during his time as Napoli head coach. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
The experienced Italian is currently out of work after departing Napoli at the end of last season.
Conte was initially tipped to return to the Italy national team, but the appointment of Roberto Mancini means he now has to find a new job.
Carrick will have to turn things around after the international break, as he could be forced to leave the job he desires.
United will host bottom-of-the-table Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford after the international break.
That Premier League clash promises to be a tense affair, with Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi also under mounting pressure. A failure to secure three points against a struggling Tottenham side could prove fatal for Carrick.
