Mix of Klopp and De Zerbi: Man Utd Make Fabian Hurzeler Number One Target

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The pressure is growing on the Manchester United manager after two wins in nine games

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is under increasing pressure after a disappointing start to the season, which has seen them win just two of their nine matches in all competitions.

Hopes were high that Man United were going to kick on again after a successful 2025-26 campaign where they finished best of the rest after Arsenal and Manchester City in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season as a result.

Fans, and clearly Lisandro Martinez after his comments in the last 24 hours, may have expected more summer incomings following their return to Europe's elite club competition and the busier fixture list that arrives as a result.

However, United chiefs only brought in three central midfielders and failed to strengthen other areas of the pitch, even if they were heavily linked with a move for a left-back, like Lewis Hall of Newcastle United and Barcelona's Alejandro Balde.

Still, the summer window cannot be changed and Carrick can't keep using the lack of summer business as the reason why the Red Devils are nowhere near the levels they were at earlier in 2026.

United face away trips to Leeds United in the Premier League and Como in the Champions League next, and they feel like a potentially defining couple of games when it comes to deciding the 45-year-old's future at Old Trafford.

Carrick's Record in 2026-27 Season

While club chiefs will be determined for things to work out for Carrick at United given they put their faith in him just a few months ago, they will also know they need to have a Plan B in mind if things don't improve and they are forced to act.

Premier League title winner Antonio Conte has been heavily linked with the position in recent weeks, but Samuel Luckhurst claims instead that Brighton and Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler is instead viewed as the standout candidate .

Hurzeler may be just 33 years of age, but he has shown huge promise at Brighton and is proving that he would be ready to step up to a bigger club if the call came.

The German coach had big shoes to fill when he replaced Roberto De Zerbi in the summer of 2024, but he has led the south coast outfit to successive eighth-placed finishes in the Premier League, securing a spot in this season's Europa Conference League.

There have been ups and downs during his career, as might be expected from such a young manager, but he has started the current campaign strongly with the Seagulls winning four of their six matches to sit third in the standings behind Man City and Arsenal, who they beat 3-0.

Fabian Hurzeler's Record at Brighton

Hurzeler bounced back from a run of one win in 13 Premier League matches last term to finish the season strongly and secure another top-half finish.

James Milner is the Premier League's record appearance holder and he knows the ins and outs of the English top flight, and he has been impressed with Hurzeler having worked under him at Brighton.

Milner believes he is like a mix of De Zerbi, now at Tottenham, and Liverpool icon Jurgen Klopp, who he also played under for many years.

> I'm getting flashbacks. There is a good mix of the last manager [Roberto De Zerbi], who was build-up orientated, but maybe a bit of Jurgen Klopp thrown in.

> "In terms of how we defend especially, the focus is on high intensity, counter-pressing and quick reactions to turnovers. The manager has put his own stamp and intensity on things, he wants us to play front foot with and without the ball.

> "I'm very familiar with the Klopp style, and hopefully that means I can help some of the boys with a few of the defensive patterns. I'm pretty comfortable with it, and can help translate."

Appointing such a young manager would be seen as a risk by many, but Hurzeler clearly has a big future in the game and the way he has performed in the Premier League at such a young age is admirable.

United would have to hope the move worked out if they decided to sack Carrick and were able to land the German coach.

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