Man Utd Hold Talks Over Big Move for Antonio Conte to Solve Defensive Issues

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Manchester United have made a shaky start to the season under Michael Carrick

Manchester United are already putting contingency plans in place following an underwhelming start to the season, according to reports in Italy.

Everyone at Man United would have been hoping to kick on again this term following the permanent appointment of Michael Carrick, as well as their summer transfer additions, but they haven't really been at the races so far in the 2026-27 campaign.

The Red Devils recorded straightforward home victories against newly-promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League minnows Sabah at Old Trafford, but those have been the major positives to date.

Defeats against Hull City, Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion have been disappointing, with the latter bringing an end to a 50-year record of United not losing a game at home when they were leading 2-0.

Carrick now has a three-week break to work on how he is going to turn the team's form around, and get them performing again like they did in the second half of last season.

United face two crucial games in the space of three days after the international break, as they host bottom-of-the-table Tottenham Hotspur, where Roberto De Zerbi is also coming under pressure, before they travel to Spain to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Carrick Record as Man Utd Manager

According to Calciomercato in Italy, club chiefs have identified Antonio Conte as their number one target if they do decide to make a change in the coming weeks and months.

The Italian is currently out of work after leaving Napoli at the end of last season, but it would be no surprise to see the experienced 57-year-old back in the dugout soon, if the right opportunity presents itself.

Conte has managed in the Premier League on two occasions previously, at Chelsea and Spurs.

While United transformed their midfield with three new signings this summer, there have been a lot of question marks over their failure to do anything in defence.

The Red Devils had been linked with a move for a new left-back throughout the window, with Lewis Hall of Newcastle United and Barcelona's Alejandro Balde two of their main targets.

United didn't end up bringing in anyone, and the likes of Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire have come under scrutiny for some of their displays this term.

Carrick's side have conceded eight goals in their five Premier League matches, including four against newly-promoted duo Hull and Ipswich, and it's already clear that improvement is needed.

After they let in two against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, it meant that Carrick's side had conceded two goals in half of his 20 matches in charge of the club.

Conte's Record in the Premier League

United clearly believe that Conte is someone who could help them tighten up at the back, and his track record as a manager suggests that is exactly the case.

The 57-year-old is a versatile tactician who more often than plays with three central defenders, which could help the Red Devils based on what we've seen in recent weeks.

While Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are the current first-choice centre-backs, they could soon have Matthijs de Ligt back available after injury, while £60m centre-back Leny Yoro is struggling to get much of a look in right now.

Playing a three-man defence would allow either one or both of those players to come in if one of Maguire or Martinez drop out of the XI, and could make a big difference in the next months.

The use of wing-backs could also take some of the defensive pressure off of Shaw and Dalot, who continue to be seen by some as suspect defensively.

Conte's teams generally score a lot of goals too, so he could help them at both ends of the pitch, while bringnig know-how of how to win league titles, which is ultimately what United are aiming for in the next few years.

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