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The heat is intensifying on Manchester United boss Michael Carrick with every day that passes.
A humiliating 4–1 loss to Como in the Champions League, compounded by sharp criticism from skipper Bruno Fernandes, has left the manager's position looking increasingly precarious, with several potential successors already being floated.
Ex-Napoli boss Antonio Conte has previously been mentioned as a potential successor to Carrick, but new reports have identified Julian Nagelsmann, a long-standing target for the Red Devils, as a frontrunner for the role. Both managers are currently without a club and free to sign immediately.
Here's a closer look at how United might line up under the former Germany and Bayern Munich head coach.
Julian Nagelsmann's Potential Man Utd XI
GK: Senne Lammens—Nagelsmann demands composure from his shot-stopper, and he'd be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than Lammens, who has built his reputation on remaining cool under pressure.
RB: Archie Gray—A key tactical principle for Nagelsmann is creating overloads in central areas, often achieved through an inverted fullback. None of United's existing options seem to fit that profile, but Tottenham Hotspur's Gray—a natural midfielder by trade—could slot seamlessly into that position.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt—Nagelsmann has always favored commanding, physically imposing defenders, and it was he who brought De Ligt to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022. The two built a solid working relationship during their brief time together in Germany.
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck—With Lisandro Martínez's future at the club in doubt, a new left-sided center back will likely be required. Nagelsmann could turn to his German connections with the highly sought-after Schlotterbeck, and Antonio Rüdiger could also be considered as a squad option as his Real Madrid contract winds down.
LB: Lewis Hall—Hall's versatility as both a left back and a ball-playing midfielder would suit Nagelsmann's typically fluid system. United's hierarchy have already identified the Newcastle United star as a target and would have little trouble selling the idea to Nagelsmann.
DM: Carlos Baleba—Any incoming manager will need to find a way to integrate Baleba into the core of the squad. The Cameroonian still has room to grow with the ball at his feet, but his potential is undeniable if Nagelsmann can unlock it.
DM: Kobbie Mainoo—Mainoo would be among the biggest beneficiaries of a Nagelsmann appointment, given the German's fondness for deep-lying playmakers—often fielding more than one at a time. Recycling possession, pulling opponents out of shape, and threading passes into the attack sounds like Mainoo's perfect role.
RM: Bryan Mbeumo—In a system featuring one inverted fullback, Mbeumo would be responsible for providing width on the right flank. The 27-year-old has impressed since arriving at Old Trafford in 2025 and would welcome yet another tactical challenge.
AM: Bruno Fernandes—Nagelsmann is the type of manager who could build his entire system around Fernandes, a pass-first creator who constantly seeks to influence play around him. It could be the tactical refresh needed to breathe new life into Fernandes's career.
LM: Matheus Cunha—One of Nagelsmann's wide players typically drifts infield to contribute to positional overloads. That role suits Cunha perfectly, given his natural tendency to operate in central spaces.
ST: Benjamin Šeško—If there's one thing Nagelsmann excels at, it's getting the best out of a striker. At Hoffenheim, he extracted 90 goals and 40 assists from Andrej Kramarić and Mark Uth across four seasons. Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen both flourished at RB Leipzig, before Robert Lewandowski netted 50 goals in 46 appearances in Munich. Šeško has the attributes to follow in those footsteps and may just need Nagelsmann's guidance to reach his ceiling.
