Julian Nagelsmann has shortened to a best price of 7/2 from 13/2 for Manchester United's next permanent manager, with three of four bookmakers cutting.
The odds on Julian Nagelsmann becoming Manchester United's next permanent manager have been slashed from 13/2 to 7/2 with Betfair Sportsbook, and after that mess in Como, nobody should be surprised.
Three of four bookmakers have cut their odds on Julian Nagelsmann, with 7/2 the best price at Betfair Sportsbook.
Eddie Howe is still the favourite at 2/1 with Bet Victor, so the move has closed the gap without changing the order at the top.
Manchester United were beaten 4-1 by Como in the Champions League on 21 October 2026.
The club hierarchy have reportedly sounded out the 39-year-old Nagelsmann, who is currently a free agent.
Manchester United were behind almost from kick-off on their Champions League visit to Como at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, and the night only got messier from there. Michael Carrick admitted that a switch to a man-to-man press after the break backfired straight away, with another goal going in. The 4-1 defeat was where it ended. It leaves United without a win in seven outings across all competitions. Then captain Bruno Fernandes went public, criticising the tactical plan and the team's failure to press high. When your captain is questioning the game plan in front of the microphones, you have a problem that goes well beyond one bad night on the road.
That is the backdrop to the market reaction. United's hierarchy have reportedly sounded out Nagelsmann about replacing Carrick, and he has emerged as the club's leading target since the Como defeat. The odds on Julian Nagelsmann have moved accordingly, and the reasoning is simple. He is a free agent, so there is no current employer to negotiate with and nothing standing between a phone call and an appointment. In a sack race, availability counts for a lot, and that is the single biggest thing working in his favour right now.
Manchester United Next Permanent Manager odds
Best odds on Julian Nagelsmann are 7/2 with Betfair Sportsbook, worst 3/1 with Bet Victor. Skybet and Paddy Power match the top price, so Bet Victor is the only firm offering shorter.
Last updated: 22 October 2026, 12:52 UK time
Odds below are live and may have changed since publishing this article.
Who is favourite to be Manchester United's next permanent manager?
Eddie Howe is the favourite at 2/1 with Bet Victor, and for all the noise around Nagelsmann, he is still the man to beat. Howe has been on United's radar after his spells at Newcastle United and Bournemouth, while Nagelsmann sits second-shortest at 7/2 with Betfair Sportsbook. Further back, the club have assessed Antonio Conte and Fabian Hurzeler, but reports say Conte was ruled out over concerns about structural fit, which makes his price hard to justify. Hurzeler stays on the list as the outsider of the leading group.
Eddie Howe – 2/1 with Bet Victor. The favourite, and a manager United have been tracking.
Julian Nagelsmann – 7/2 with Betfair Sportsbook. The big mover since Como and currently a free agent.
Antonio Conte – 6/1 with Skybet. Reportedly ruled out over structural fit.
Fabian Hurzeler – 7/1 with Skybet. Assessed as part of the club's shortlist.
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Who will be Manchester United's next permanent manager?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox are reviewing Carrick's position ahead of the Premier League visit of Bournemouth, and that fixture now feels like a referendum on the dugout. Anyone who has watched a PSL board run out of patience knows how this kind of week goes: one more flat performance and the decision tends to make itself. A trip to Chelsea follows, so there is no soft landing on the calendar either. Our take for anyone following the Manchester United odds: Howe remains favourite on price, but the momentum is with Nagelsmann. His availability is the angle the market has latched on to, and 7/2 with Betfair Sportsbook is the price to watch if Bournemouth turns into another messy afternoon.
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