Manchester United are being linked with Antonio Conte as their coaching search gathers pace, with Pini Zahavi now involved in talks about a possible move to Old Trafford. The club are in the Premier League relegation zone, have won only three of 15 matches in all competitions this season, and Michael Carrick remains in charge for now.
United's pressure points
The league numbers explain why the conversation has moved so quickly. United are 18th with 8 points from 10 league matches, and their recent league run reads DLLDD. They will return to action on 22 November with an away trip to Liverpool.
Several reports say Carrick could be dismissed in the next few days, but there is still some disagreement over who is front of the queue. Reuters, citing ESPN, reported that Mauricio Pochettino is currently the main candidate, while Foot Mercato has reported that Conte has enlisted Zahavi solely in the context of negotiations to try to get the United job.
Conte's case
Conte's appeal is obvious enough. He has worked in England at Chelsea and Tottenham, and he led Chelsea to the English championship in 2017. That record does not settle United's choice, but it does explain why his name carries weight when the club are searching under pressure.
The reporting around Zahavi suggests this is no longer just background noise. United still have not made a final call, and the manager picture remains split between Conte and Pochettino, with Carrick's future still hanging over the next few days.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
