Manchester United could be about to let slip the opportunity to bring in Antonio Conte as their new head coach. This scenario is becoming increasingly likely if the club's hierarchy continue to procrastinate regarding Michael Carrick's future. According to reports, Juventus are eyeing the Italian manager seriously.
Last season, Carrick guided the Red Devils to a third-place finish in the Premier League, securing a Champions League spot. However, things have taken a turn for the worse this campaign. After seven matches in the Premier League, United have only managed to accumulate seven points — a tally that resembles relegation form.
Currently, Manchester United sit in a disappointing 13th place in the league. They have already been eliminated from the EFL Cup and the fans are left reeling after a recent 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
The 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday can be considered an acceptable result, especially as the Yorkshire side is in decent form. Nevertheless, given the overall struggles of the season, Carrick is under mounting pressure to secure victories.
While there are no official announcements regarding Carrick's sacking, The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell mentioned over the weekend that the coach's position is starting to look shaky. Despite this, former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes that the INEOS hierarchy won't resort to drastic measures at this point.
Conte, who has previously managed Chelsea and Tottenham, is viewed as the prime candidate to replace Carrick. Reports suggest the Italian would be keen to take the reins at Old Trafford, particularly after leaving Napoli, as he seeks a role at a club with a rich history.
However, time is of the essence for Manchester United as Tuttomercatoweb insists that Juventus have noted Conte's availability after their painful 3-0 home defeat to Lazio.
Juventus have slipped to eighth place in Serie A, and their manager Luciano Spalletti now finds himself under immense pressure. The reports indicate that with United's delay in appointing a new manager, Conte's shadow looms large over Turin, making him the leading candidate should Spalletti depart.
Assessing Spalletti’s prospects, Tuttomercatoweb writes:
We will learn more in the coming hours, but the question remains open. This Juventus, despite a difficult transfer window, is struggling to find its identity. The coach's constant experimentation complicates his life and offers little in terms of guarantees.
Journalists highlight that Spalletti's tactical approach is overly complex.
He is employing intricate tactics with unclear formulations when simplicity is required. Perhaps there is a need for a striker, or it might be prudent to return to a 3-5-2 formation, at least to prioritise the reliability that is currently lacking.
