Jason Wilcox
Manchester United are reportedly interested in appointing Eddie Howe as their next manager if they do sack Michael Carrick in the coming days or weeks.
Carrick is under pressure after a disappointing start to the season, and he failed to get a result last time out against Chelsea in the Premier League.
The Red Devils suffered a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea at the weekend, with Lisandro Martinez's red card summing up their afternoon.
The Argentinian defender gave away a silly penalty and was sent off, giving United a mountain to climb as Cole Palmer made it 2-0 from the spot.
That made it nine games without a win for United in all competitions, with the pressure seriously mounting on Carrick at Old Trafford.
There's no doubt Carrick isn't the sole one to blame, and the fans certainly recognise that as they continue to sing his name but berate the players.
According to a report from journalist Alan Nixon, Howe does have some reservations about taking the United job.
The former Newcastle United manager is one of the favourites to succeed Carrick. Although he's keen on the job, he wants to know who is in charge of signing players.
Howe may want his own input on recruitment or the ability to bring someone in to deal with that department.
United might be considering changing their scouting department soon, but Jason Wilcox does appear to be safe in his role at the moment.
Man Utd Premier League Stats
Howe isn't believed to be in a hurry to take on a new role, and he may need a better structure in place in order to sign up to the job.
It feels unlikely that United would be willing to give Howe full control of transfers. In the modern era, clubs like to have a set structure that deals with recruitment rather than allowing a manager to get involved too much.
It remains to be seen whether Carrick is going to remain in his role at Old Trafford, but the run of games without a win is seriously concerning.
Michael Carrick of Manchester United walking into the stadium
Michael Carrick of Manchester United walking into the stadium
Man Utd might be left with no choice
Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo
Even though Carrick isn't solely to blame for United's troubles, they could be left with no choice but to sack him in the near future.
There's no doubt the players are seriously letting him down at the moment, but of course you can't just get rid of all the players, especially outside of a transfer window.
United might need to bring in a manager who can get more out of the current crop of players and get them back onside.
The players don't appear to be playing for Carrick at the moment, and there are serious concerns about whether he can turn it around.
Whether a new manager would be able to solve things remains to be seen, but United could still be left with no choice.