Man Utd transfer news: Carrick backed as Fernandes, Martínez talks go on
Manchester United are still backing Michael Carrick and have not held talks with Fabian Hurzeler, Romano says, while Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez have no contract deals yet.
Manchester United transfer news this week is dominated by two questions: whether Michael Carrick keeps his job, and whether captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Lisandro Martínez sign new contracts. According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, quoted by Football365 on Friday 16 October 2026, United have had no contact and no direct talks with Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler and are not negotiating with any coach, because the club is still backing Carrick. All of the items below are reports rather than club announcements: United have made no official statement on the manager's position or on either contract.
Carrick's future: what the reports say
The speculation follows a difficult start to the season. United have won just one of their first six Premier League matches, collecting six points out of a possible 18. The latest league outing was a 1-1 draw at Manchester United's Old Trafford against a Tottenham side reduced to ten men: Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead, but Dominic Solanke equalised in injury time. That was followed by a 2-0 defeat away to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League.
Romano's account, as relayed by Football365, explains why Hurzeler's name keeps surfacing: a member of United's leadership group is said to admire the Brighton coach. Other names have reportedly been discussed internally as well, including Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe. Discussing names, however, is not the same as negotiating, and Romano's message was that no talks have taken place.
The Athletic's David Ornstein offered a similar reading, as relayed by other outlets. He said he knows of no desire inside the club to get rid of Carrick and that United are right behind him, while adding that such backing would not survive an extended poor run of results.
Hurzeler the standout name in other reports
Not every outlet frames it the same way. TEAMtalk and Football365 have reported that Hurzeler would be INEOS's standout candidate if a change were made. Those reports also note an obvious obstacle: Hurzeler recently signed a new contract at Brighton, which would complicate any approach. Bookmakers have made Carrick the favourite to be the first Premier League manager sacked this season, but no decision has been announced.
Bruno Fernandes contract: no agreement yet
The second strand of the United transfer news concerns the captain. Earlier this month Romano said there was still no agreement on a new contract for Bruno Fernandes (Football365, via LiveScore). The Portugal international's deal expires in summer 2027, and United hold an option to extend it by one year, to 2028.
According to Romano, talks with Fernandes's agent cover salary, contract length and the release clause, which he said currently stands at €65m. Romano also said that Marcus Rashford's return on a large salary has changed United's wage structure, which feeds directly into any negotiation with the club's highest-profile players.
Lisandro Martínez: "under control", says Romano
Lisandro Martínez is in a similar contractual position: he is tied to the club until June 2027, again with a club option to extend to 2028. Romano described the situation as under control. He said United regard the Argentine as a leader, that talks are expected in the coming months, and that the defender is not in advanced negotiations with any other club.
SportBible, writing on 16 October 2026, listed both men among the most valuable potential free agents next summer. It noted that Martínez has been linked with Atlético Madrid, and that Fernandes was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer but chose to stay.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Carrick's position | No talks with Hurzeler or any other coach (Romano) | Reported |
| Names discussed internally | Hurzeler, Conte, Nagelsmann, Howe | Reported |
| Fernandes contract | Ends summer 2027, club option to 2028; €65m release clause (Romano) | Reported |
| Martínez contract | Ends June 2027, club option to 2028; talks expected | Reported |
| Transfermarkt values (via SportBible) | Martínez about £38.1m, Fernandes about £29.6m | Reported |
What it means for United on the pitch
Yalla Shoot's Premier League table data, updated on 16 October, shows United 13th on six points from six games (one win, three draws, two defeats), with nine goals scored and nine conceded. Mbeumo and Fernandes have three league goals each, and Fernandes also has one assist. Brighton, by contrast, sit third on 13 points, with 18 goals scored, which helps explain why their coach is attractive to other clubs and why Brighton would be reluctant to lose him.
The numbers show why the next few weeks matter for Carrick. Ornstein's caveat about an extended poor run is the key line: the backing reported this week is real, but it depends on results. Fernandes is also central to the side's output, so how his contract talks go matters for the dressing room and not only for the accounts.
Background: Carrick, Fernandes and Martínez
Carrick is a former United midfielder who won five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League with the club. He had a caretaker spell in charge in 2021, then managed Middlesbrough before returning to Old Trafford. After replacing Ruben Amorim, he led United to third place and Champions League qualification last season, which is a large part of why the hierarchy is reportedly reluctant to act quickly.
Hurzeler became Brighton head coach in 2024, at the time the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history. Fernandes joined United from Sporting CP in January 2020 and is now club captain. Martínez arrived from Ajax in 2022 for a reported £57m and won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
- Transfermarkt valuation (via SportBible): Martínez about £38.1m, Fernandes about £29.6m.
- Contract expiry: both in 2027, both with club options to 2028.
- Manager status: no change announced; bookmakers' favourite for the first sacking.
What's next
The short-term issue is results: the reports suggest Carrick's position will be judged on the coming run of league and Champions League matches. On contracts, talks with Fernandes's camp are ongoing and talks with Martínez are expected in the coming months, according to Romano. Until United make an official announcement, everything here should be read as reporting. Follow upcoming fixtures on our matches page for the next steps in United's season.