Didier Deschamps 'doesn't want Manchester United job': Blow for Sir Jim Ratcliffe as unemployed former France boss appears hesitant to replace under-fire Michael Carrick

Manchester United have suffered a road bump in sounding out potential replacements for Michael Carrick – as Didier Deschamps reportedly doesn't want the gig.

Deschamps, who left the France job after 14 years following the World Cup, has told the club he is uninterested according to the Daily Mirror.

Carrick remains in post but his bosses have been privately talking to possible successors for weeks after an abysmal start to the season which has left them 17th in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe, Fabian Hurzeler, Unai Emery and Antonio Conte have all come up on the shortlist, with the international break this month seen as an ideal time for managerial changes across the league.

Deschamps appealed to United because of his immediate availability and lack of a compensation fee, but is in no rush to take a job and snubbed their advance.

After a glittering career as a player, he has won the World Cup managing France, lifted Ligue 1 with Marseille, led Monaco to a Champions League final, and got Juventus promoted back to Serie A after the Calciopoli scandal.

Didier Deschamps has reportedly told Manchester United he is not interested in the job

Michael Carrick remains in post but United have been sounding out potential replacements for weeks

Carrick's prospects of keeping the job had a boost on Tuesday as Matheus Cunha struck two late goals to produce a stunning turnaround win against Roma in the Champions League.

But he only has a clash against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon before the international break to prove to the hierarchy that he should keep his job.

That comeback against Roma stopped a rot which has been spreading for weeks. United were on the verge of going ten games without a win, a run unprecedented in the club's history.

They have reached a nadir in recent weeks after batterings by Como and Bournemouth – the latter at Old Trafford, no less – while players have been openly mutinous.

Bruno Fernandes publicly criticised Carrick's tactics after the 4-1 defeat at Como, leading to Carrick benching him for the next game against Bournemouth.

And Lisandro Martinez has singled out director of football Jason Wilcox over United's transfer activity, suggesting the squad was left short on quality after the transfer window.

Were Carrick to go, it is unclear who would replace him.

Emery is open to signing a new deal with Aston Villa which would take him to close to a decade at the club, and held a meeting with club chiefs on Wednesday.

Hurzeler does not have a release clause in his Brighton contract and so would require enormous compensation. There is well-placed scepticism as to whether any move would even be remotely possible, regardless of how well liked he is inside Old Trafford.

Nagelsmann and Conte are both out of work and the latter has previously indicated that he would like the challenge of restoring a fallen giant to glory.