Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are emerging as early contenders to become the next Manchester United head coach if Michael Carrick loses his job.

Carrick’s position at Old Trafford is under major threat following the club’s poor start to the season, with work towards identifying his successor believed to be ongoing.

It is understood Howe and Nagelsmann both feature prominently on the list of candidates the club has explored to potentially replace him, and that both managers are aware of United’s interest.

Sources have also indicated Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is admired at United, but the fact he is under contract would complicate any move for the Spaniard.

Howe, Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte – who is interested in the job – are out of work, making their potential appointments easier.

Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that former Newcastle boss Howe is fully open to joining United if Carrick loses his job.

Nagelsmann is available after leaving his job as Germany head coach after the World Cup, while Conte – who has also been linked with Juventus – is open to returning to football after leaving Napoli in May.

Should Carrick be dismissed, the 20-time English top-flight champions will be looking to appoint their eighth permanent manager or head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the club in 2013 on the back of winning their most recent title.

Here, BBC Sport takes a closer look at the contenders who could be up for the job.

The Englishman has been out of work since leaving Newcastle in the summer.

Howe, 48, helped the Magpies end their 56-year wait for a trophy when he led them to League Cup glory in 2025 and secured two Champions League qualifications in his five years in charge.

The former Bournemouth and Burnley boss is available and would be considered. Sources have indicated Howe is open to returning to management with United specifically after leaving St James’ Park in the close season.

The Italian has been out of work since leaving Napoli in June and is interested in the job.

Conte has won Serie A titles with three different clubs as manager – Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli.

The 57-year-old led Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017 and FA Cup in 2018. During his time at Tottenham between November 2021 and March 2023 he helped them qualify for the Champions League.

Also out of work, interested and high up on the club’s list of contenders.

The German left the role of manager of his country’s national team after a World Cup last-32 defeat on penalties to Paraguay last summer, having lost in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 to Spain.

Nagelsmann, 39, earned his reputation as a young coach at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before he landed the Bayern Munich job in 2021. He led them to the Bundesliga title in 2022 but was sacked the following season amid fluctuating form.

The Aston Villa head coach’s stock is high at United given how he has steered the Midlands club to Champions League qualification twice since arriving in 2022.

However, he would be difficult to prise from his current role given his contract runs until 2029.

Emery, 54, has won five Europa League trophies at Sevilla, Villarreal and at his current club while he also helped Paris St-Germain to domestic honours in a two-year stint there.

However, he lasted just 18 months at Arsenal before being sacked in 2019.

The Brighton manager is another who is well liked at Old Trafford, but the Seagulls would have little interest in discussing his availability.

It would be a difficult deal to do financially for Man Utd as well.

Hurzeler, 33, guided German club St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga in 2024 before he was picked up by Brighton where he is enjoying a very strong start to his third season at the club.

The former Arsenal midfielder masterminded United’s humiliating 4-1 defeat in Como on Wednesday night in a game that pushed Carrick to the brink.

Fabregas, 39, is considered one of the best young coaches in Europe for his work in helping to steer the Italian club from Serie B to the Champions League and will be wanted by many major clubs in the coming months.