Mainoo a doubt, Leeds away on Sunday
Kobbie Mainoo is the big question mark. Michael Carrick is still waiting on clarity over several players before he settles on his XI for Leeds away on Sunday at 15:00 (11). The predicted shape is 4-2-3-1 (11).
You go into it 13th on 6 points from 6 games, with one win in your last five. Leeds away is not a game you can afford to drift through.
Carrick speaks after the Martinez fallout
Lisandro Martinez has been fined and has apologised. He met Carrick and senior club officials on Thursday after his outburst at technical director Jason Wilcox following the 2–0 Champions League defeat at Atlético Madrid (2) (4) (5) (6) (9) (14).
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His words: "The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise" (9). Carrick faces the press on Friday, the club's first public response to the whole thing (2) (3).
Martinez wants out next summer
Martinez reportedly wants to leave Old Trafford next summer, frustrated at the club's failure to sign a left-back, and is not expected to sign a new deal (13). Gary Neville named the two United players the outburst hurt most, and neither is a summer signing (7). Attention around Martinez's future is growing (8).
Conte is on the phone, Howe is the favourite
Antonio Conte has told United he is ready to step in if Carrick goes (12) (15). The bookmakers still lean elsewhere: Eddie Howe is the favourite, Conte second (3). Other names in the odds include Fabian Hurzeler, Julian Nagelsmann, Kieran McKenna, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp (3).
United lead the race for De Jong
United are the frontrunners for Frenkie de Jong, valued around €65m, ahead of Juventus (10). Ronald Araujo also features in the reporting (10).
Onana's night in Europe
Andre Onana was back in European football on Thursday and Trabzonspor won 4–2 away at KuPS in the Conference League. He conceded directly from a corner (1).
Alex Scott race slipping away
New frontrunners have overtaken United in the race for Bournemouth's Alex Scott (16).
Fan reactions
The subreddit is deep in nostalgia mode, with older supporters posting line-ups and matchday memories from decades past (Roy's debut at the 1993 Charity Shield got the most traction). The mood reads less "what went wrong on Sunday" and more "remember when this was us". A familiar coping mechanism for a fanbase sitting 13th.
