Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes the answer to their managerial conundrum could be staring them straight in the face.
Man United chiefs have decided to give Michael Carrick time to turn things around, according to GIVEMESPORT sources, and he will take charge of the Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
It was something of a surprise decision given the Red Devils have won just two of their 12 matches this season, and lie 16th in the Premier League table after going eight games in all competitions without a win, with performances nowhere near the level they were at when Carrick was in interim charge.
While Carrick has been given a stay of execution, exit talk will once again ramp up should United lose again against Xabi Alonso's men this weekend.
United have been linked with a whole host of managers in recent days following successive defeats by three-goal margins for the club against Como and Bournemouth, with two of the frontrunners believed to be Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.
Both out-of-work managers have their admirers on the United board, as does another unemployed manager in Antonio Conte.
Key Events Timeline
May 2026 — Carrick signed a permanent two-year deal after securing Champions League qualification.
October 2026 — A 1-1 draw at Leeds left United with their worst-ever Premier League start.
October 2026 — Como thrashed United 4-1, stretching the winless run to seven games.
October 2026 — Bournemouth won 3-0 at Old Trafford after Carrick dropped Bruno Fernandes.
October 2026 — Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox held crisis talks over Carrick's future.
Sun journalist Samuel Luckhurst claimed on Tuesday that the club isn't completely sold on any of those options, before suggesting Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler and Aston Villa's Unai Emery as two in-work managers they would hold an interest in.
Compensation figures for both managers would be a potential sticking point, while GMS already revealed that Hurzeler has no intention of leaving the Seagulls at this point.
Emery appears to be very happy at Villa Park and with the high level of influence he has been given over the football club, but Scholes believes that he would join United if an offer was on the table.
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Emery Record as Aston Villa Manager
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Speaking on the Good, the Bad & the Football podcast, he said: "Is the answer staring us right in the face, in Unai Emery? He's won the Europa League with Aston Villa, do you know what an achievement that is?
"He gets a new team every single year because they have to sell the best players, and he keeps producing, keeps producing. Now, look, is everyone tainted and put off by his Arsenal and PSG days? Probably, because it's a big club. But I think, as far as style of play as well, it's a 4-3-3, 4-4-2, whatever it is.
"Look, it might be staring us in the face. I don't know, but whether, like Nicky [Butt} said before, will he take it? Look, he'd have to take Man United over. I think he would."
Scholes' Optimism Might be Misguided
Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Scholes may believe that Emery would come to Old Trafford now, but his optimism might be misguided.
There would have been fears earlier this season after their poor start to the campaign that the Spaniard may have felt he'd taken the club as far as he could after losing the likes of Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Youri Tielemans during the summer.
However, in typical Emery fashion, he has bounced back and the recent 6-0 and 2-1 wins against Fenerbahce and Manchester City respectively in the Champions League and the Premier League, the latter ending City's 100% start to their top flight campaign.
Brighton boss Hurzeler was full of praise for his fellow Premier League manager earlier this season, saying:
Emery is the manager of Aston Villa, rather than the head coach terminology used at Old Trafford, but he has so much more influence than just that around the club, and he just wouldn't be in the same boat at United unless sweeping changes were made behind the scenes.
With Villa picking up and the majority of their summer signings like Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson now thriving, the Midlands outfit could be in for another strong campaign.
To drop that for the job at Old Trafford currently would be a huge risk, and while it is something that perhaps could tempt him in the future, he would be mad to take it now.