Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Manchester United are 'very keen' on Brighton and Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler, according to Football Insider, but there is a better German coach they should go for instead if they choose to sack Michael Carrick.
The pressure is mounting on the Man United boss following an underwhelming start to the season, with the club winning just two of their opening seven matches in all competitions.
Those came at home to Sabah in the Champions League and newly-promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League, while they have been beaten by Hull City, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion, with the latter ending a 50-year record of the club never losing when leading 2-0 at half-time at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils will have counted themselves fortunate not to have registered another defeat against Fulham on Sunday, as Matheus Cunha's 89th-minute deflected strike rescued a point in another poor performance from Carrick's men.
United look a shadow of the side who were the best team in the Premier League points-wise from Carrick's caretaker manager appointment in January, through until the end of the campaign in May.
It is beginning to look as though the club may have got their transfer priorities wrong by adding only three players in the same central midfield position, rather than successfully adding players in defence too.
They have conceded eight times in five top flight games, with their only clean sheet coming against Sabah, who rarely troubled Senne Lammens' goal.
Questions are now being asked whether United made the right decision to appoint Carrick on a permanent basis ahead of a Champions League campaign when there are extra fixtures to deal with.
According to former United chief scout Mick Brown, United and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are 'very keen' on impressive Brighton boss Hurzeler, who masterminded a remarkable 3-0 victory against Arsenal on Saturday, ending their 100% start to the campaign.
He said: "He's done a fantastic job with Brighton to get them where they have been over the last couple of years, and he's doing well again this year, they're now up to third in the table.
"I would be surprised if it was something they were looking to do in the immediate future, I don't think either club wants to have a change of manager this early in the season."
United Should Target Thomas Tuchel Instead
Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
At 33 years of age, there is clearly something very good about Hurzeler, who has won nearly 45% of his matches in charge of the Seagulls.
However, he has also lost more than a quarter of his games with the south coast outfit. If United were to sack Carrick anytime soon, they need a more experienced and authoritative manager in the dressing room.
Hurzeler is an impressive young German coach, but they should move for one who is 20 years his senior instead to turn their fortunes around.
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Hurzeler Record at Brighton
Matches
Wins
Draws
Losses
Win percentage
In the summer, it looked as though Thomas Tuchel was about to lead England to their first World Cup final since 1966 as they led Argentina 1-0, but defensive substitutions and a comeback from the South American side saw them advance to face Spain instead.
It was a blot on the German's copybook when it comes to how he is viewed in England, but this is also a man who has managed Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund during his managerial career.
He knows how to work under pressure at a big club and has proven he can win trophies, with three league titles and a Champions League on his CV.
He already has Marcus Rashford onside, with the Red Devils star thanking Tuchel for believing in him in an Instagram post following his call-up to the Three Lions squad for the World Cup.
Tuchel's trophy haul:
1 Champions League (Chelsea)
3 league titles (PSG x2, Bayern Munich)
1 super cup (Chelsea)
1 Club World Cup (Chelsea)
5 domestic cup wins (PSG x4, Borussia Dortmund)
United may need to do some convincing themselves to convince the 53-year-old to leave the England job, just seven months after he signed a new two-year deal that takes him to the end of Euro 2028, held in the UK and Ireland.
GMS reported in 2024 that Tuchel would welcome an approach from United over taking the job, and he did hold talks with club chiefs later that year over the job.
However, the suggestion from Germany was that a disagreement over the potential transfer policy actually saw him reject the chance to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
Nevertheless, two years is a long time in football and if United believe they could find a compromise now with the German tactician, they should go for it.