Michael Carrick at Carrington as United executives meet over his future

Michael Carrick attended Manchester United’s Carrington training ground on Monday afternoon as sporting director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada met to consider whether to sack the head coach after United’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth on Sunday at Old Trafford. Carrick arrived at about 1.50pm to watch the under-21s play a behind-closed-doors game.

Wilcox and Berrada met at Carrington on Monday morning; Wilcox departed just before 5pm and Carrick left shortly afterwards. The defeat extended United’s run to eight games without a win and left them with two victories all season. United sit 16th in the Premier League, a point above the relegation zone.

Unai Emery is described as another admired manager by the club, but Aston Villa would demand about £20m in compensation for the Spaniard. Julian Nagelsmann is highly regarded by Christopher Vivell, United’s head of recruitment, who is believed to have sounded out his fellow German. Wilcox’s view may hold more sway with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls football policy at United. Antonio Conte, who left Napoli in the summer, is another name said to be in the frame.

Carrick said he dropped Bruno Fernandes for the Bournemouth loss for "pure football reasons". That decision followed Fernandes criticising Carrick’s tactics after last Wednesday’s 4-1 loss at Como. The captain was an unused substitute and was booed, along with other players, by fans in the Stretford End at the end of the defeat by Bournemouth. On Monday Fernandes liked an Instagram post that said: "Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care." The post also said: "The person holding everything together is usually the one nobody thinks to check on."

Ineos, which is owned by Ratcliffe, has reportedly put FC Lausanne-Sport up for sale. Ineos declined to comment when contacted by the Guardian. Lausanne-Sport are bottom of the top division in Switzerland.

If the 45-year-old is removed, Eddie Howe remains Wilcox’s preferred candidate, with contact between them understood to have been made. The former Newcastle manager is open to taking up the position, subject to negotiations.