Michael Carrick has been given a reprieve at Old Trafford. Al Jazeera reports the Englishman will stay on as Manchester United manager for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, with United sitting 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone, after eight matches without a win in all competitions.
“I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything in particular, to be honest. I’m carrying on as normal, and I love this place,” Carrick told reporters.
The reprieve has not stilled the speculation. Transfer journalist Nicolò Schira wrote this week that Antonio Conte, who left Napoli after last season and was replaced by Massimiliano Allegri, is in no hurry to accept another Italian job but would treat an English offer differently.
Schira said on X, as reported by Il Napolista, that Conte is turning down calls for now.
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“He is receiving various calls from industry insiders, but seems oriented to waiting for next season to accept a Serie A club. It’s a different matter for an English club (Man United), where it would take less time to rebuild.”
Conte himself has not spoken publicly about the United link since Carrick’s reprieve.
Barcelona want a centre-back by January
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are hunting defensive reinforcements after consecutive losses to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and to Real Madrid in La Liga exposed a thin back line. Per Mundo Deportivo, four names are on the January shortlist: Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City, Alessandro Bastoni of Inter Milan, Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United and Natan of Real Betis.
Gvardiol, 24, is described as the dream target. The Croatian signed a contract extension with Manchester City until 2031 in the summer, and Mundo Deportivo suggests Barcelona only have a realistic path to him if City are hit with sporting sanctions.
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Attention has therefore drifted toward Martinez. The 28-year-old Argentina international’s United contract expires in June 2027, which could push the club toward a January sale rather than losing him for nothing. Mundo Deportivo values the move at around €30m plus add-ons, though the same report flags Martinez’s injury history as something Barcelona would need to weigh.
Spurs miss out on a Ballon d’Or bonus
Harry Kane’s 2026 Ballon d’Or triumph has had an unexpected financial footnote at Tottenham Hotspur. Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg said this week that the 2023 transfer that took Kane to Bayern Munich contained no bonus linked to the award.
“Understand Tottenham have NO Ballon d’Or bonus clause included in €100m deal with FC Bayern for Harry Kane in 2023. Bayern will not have to pay Spurs any additional fee for this achievement,” Plettenberg wrote.
Carrick’s United kick off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 31 October.
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