Antonio Conte has informed Manchester United that he would be willing to replace Michael Carrick as Red Devils head coach, according to reports.
Carrick enjoyed a brilliant spell as caretaker manager last term, helping United finish third in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League. That earned him the job on a permanent basis, but many supporters and observers feel United failed to back him properly in the summer transfer market.
United have won just one of their first six Premier League matches this season, collecting only six points from those fixtures. Carrick was already under pressure after a 1-1 draw with ten-man Tottenham at the weekend, and a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League has raised further concerns. Lisandro Martinez was punished in the aftermath of the defeat in Spain after he blamed the club’s start to the new season on poor recruitment.
Conte open to a mid-season move
Rumours have circulated for weeks that Conte, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss and ex-Napoli head coach, could take over if United decide to change direction. Speaking earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Italian is ready to take charge of a historic club as soon as possible.
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Antonio Conte is for sure open to these opportunities. Again, at the moment, no concrete contacts yet with Manchester United.”
He added that Conte, unlike in the past, would be open to taking a job mid-season. Romano also stressed that Conte does not want a move to the Middle East simply for the money, and that his priority is to remain in Europe with a club of considerable history. Romano named Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann as other managers linked with the United job should the club decide to change.
Reports of contact with United
TEAMtalk revealed on Thursday that Conte is ready to take charge of United immediately, and that intermediaries working with him have renewed contact with the club’s hierarchy to reiterate his interest.
talkSPORT has since backed up that story, claiming Conte has told United he is open to replacing Carrick at Old Trafford as soon as possible. The report adds that representatives of Conte have told United they would be interested in taking over should Carrick be dismissed.