Eddie Howe told to steer clear of Man United job as blame shifted away from Michael Carrick

Eddie Howe should not become the new Manchester United manager as many other established appointments have failed. That’s the view of talkSPORT host Jeff Stelling , who believes those at boardroom level should be blamed for the club’s demise rather than Michael Carrick . United have dropped to 16th in the Premier League following the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon. Head coach Carrick, who boldly left captain Bruno Fernandes on the bench , is expected to be sacked just five months after signing a two-year deal. talkSPORT understands that former Newcastle United boss Howe is the preferred next appointment for technical director Jason Wilcox. Howe got Bournemouth promoted to the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup at Newcastle, while also managing the club in the Champions League. However, Breakfast host Stelling believes the 48-year-old should not entertain a move to Old Trafford given limited success of past bosses such as Louis van Gaal, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. Howe told to stay away from United “People are bandying around names. I mean, nobody’s got any idea, basically,” he said. “But Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, they’re the ones that are coming up at the moment. “But so many people have tried at this football club to take over as manager. Creditable manager after creditable manager has failed, when are they going to look at people like Jason Wilcox and say… “I don’t want anybody to lose their job, by the way. But, ‘Actually, it’s not Michael Carrick who should be carrying the can for this. “‘It’s Jason Wilcox, it’s Omar Berrada, it’s Jim Ratcliffe, the Glazers’.” Stelling added: “People talk about Eddie Howe. If I’m Eddie Howe, I’m looking at that and thinking, ‘I’m not going anywhere near this’.” Wilcox is understood to be leaning towards Howe due to his Premier League experience, with 369 matches managed across ten seasons. However, he was against an appointment when United’s ex-sporting director Dan Ashworth put Howe forward before the club turned to Amorim in November 2024. Former Germany and Bayern Munich boss Nagelsmann is the leading option for United’s head of recruitment Christopher Vivell, and has been sounded out . Unai Emery is another candidate, though he is unlikely to leave Aston Villa and would be an expensive hire. Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler is admired by Wilcox, but he is not interested in joining United . Antonio Conte, who won the 2016/17 Premier League title with Chelsea, is understood to be open to succeeding Carrick . Next Man Utd Manager Odds courtesy of talkSPORT BET and subject to change. Correct as of 26/10/26. Eddie Howe – 4/5 Julian Nagelsmann – 6/4 Antonio Conte – 4/1 Fabian Hurzeler – 6/1 Unai Emery – 8/1 Kieran McKenna – 10/1 Carlo Ancelotti – 12/1 Keep up to date with all the latest next Manchester United manager odds at talkSPORT BET. 18+ gambleaware.org