Manchester United are plotting a sensational move for Antonio Conte as pressure continues to mount on manager Michael Carrick.
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, United have already made initial contact with representatives of the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss.
United haven’t decided on Carrick’s future yet, but it’s far from secure after the club’s massively underwhelming start to the season.
The Red Devils have won just one of their opening five Premier League games, thrashing newly promoted Ipswich Town 5-2 in their first match at Old Trafford.
They are 12th in the table, having lost to Hull City and Manchester City, and were also knocked out of the EFL Cup third round by Brighton & Hove Albion.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Fulham did little to ease the pressure on Carrick. Matheus Cunha’s deflected effort rescued a point for United, but the performance was dreadful.
Carrick now has three weeks to come up with a plan to turn things around before United host Tottenham Hotspur after the international break on October 10.
With Tottenham yet to win a game this season, failing to pick up maximum points at Old Trafford could be devastating for Carrick’s United career.
Several names have already been circulated as talks of potential replacements start to grow, and Conte is reportedly at the top of United’s list.
The 57-year-old has plenty of Premier League experience, having managed Chelsea from 2016 to 2018 and Tottenham between 2021 and 2023.
He led Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season before adding the FA Cup the following year.
While he went trophyless at Tottenham, he still led the club to a top-four finish and is the most recent manager to do so.
The Italian recently left Napoli after winning Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana in two seasons.
Another early-season managerial change could add pressure to United’s already struggling finances, but Carrick is running out of time to prove he’s still the right man for the job.