Just in: Romano reveals Man Utd officials have identified ‘fantastic’ coach as ‘ideal’ Carrick successor
Manchester United are reportedly dreaming about hiring Aston Villa’s Unai Emery as their next head coach.
The Old Trafford outfit has been enduring another miserable campaign. Michael Carrick’s men have only won one Premier League game in their first nine, and they currently sit in a shocking 17th place in the table.
United have also crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the opening round, and have only managed to beat Champions League minnows Sabah in their first three European games, while suffering defeats to Atletico Madrid and Como.
Man Utd hoping to replace Carrick with Unai Emery
Despite their nightmarish run, the Red Devils have thus far opted against firing Carrick, perhaps due to a lack of alternatives.
The 45-year-old had been appointed as an interim coach in January as a replacement for Ruben Amorim, before earning a permanent contract thanks to a solid run that culminated in a third-place finish in the table.
While Carrick is still expected to oversee the next two games against Roma and Aston Villa before the November international, a change could be inevitable next week, at least if the team doesn’t show a proper reaction over the next 180 minutes of play.
Over the past few weeks, United have been linked with several profiles, but Fabrizio Romano insists that club officials consider Emery the ‘ideal’ manager to build the future with.
The Italian journalist reveals how highly appreciated the Spaniard is at Carrington, and that INEOS would be delighted to hire the 54-year-old.
However, Romano doesn’t expect Emery to leave Birmingham imminently, as Aston Villa have no plans to deprive themselves of his services, especially considering the prominent role he plays at the club.
Is Emery a forbidden dream for Man Utd?
While the naysayers would point to his forgettable spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, Emery boasts an impressive resume, with successful tenures at Sevilla, Villarreal, and currently at Aston Villa.
The Spaniard has showcased a particular ability to build competitive squads and collect silverware.
| Next Man Utd boss | Odds | Implied probability | Betting split (bets received this week) |
| Eddie Howe | 4/6 | 60% | 19% |
| Julian Nagelsmann | 5/2 | 29% | – |
| Unai Emery | 7/2 | 22% | 65% |
| Antonio Conte | 4/1 | 20% | – |
| Kieran McKenna | 10/1 | 9% | – |
| Cesc Fabregas | 22/1 | 4% | 3% |
As illustrated by Oddschecker, Emery has been gaining ground on Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann in the race for Man Utd’s next manager over the past few days. But as Romano mentioned, Aston Villa must be respected.
Therefore, the former Valencia coach remains an unlikely option to replace Carrick immediately, but he could be a strong candidate should United go for an interim coach until the end of the season, even though his contract with Villa runs until June 2029.
