Eddie Howe, currently out of work, has indicated he would be open to discussions with Manchester United should the club decide to part ways with current manager Michael Carrick. The Premier League club is reportedly considering significant defensive reinforcements, targeting Everton's 24-year-old defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
In other football transfer news, Sean Dyche, formerly of Watford, Burnley, Everton, and Nottingham Forest, is considered the leading candidate for the Crystal Palace manager position if Pierre Sage is dismissed. Thomas Frank, the former Brentford boss, and Vitor Pereira, ex-Wolves manager, are also mentioned as potential contenders, alongside Robbie Keane, the former Ferencvaros manager.
Tottenham Hotspur's 20-year-old Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall has attracted interest from Napoli and Barcelona. Manchester United is also involved in a situation regarding academy forward JJ Gabriel, 16, whose registration cannot be terminated until January, with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain seeking an agreement.
Several top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, are keeping tabs on 18-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Lennart Karl. Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Dodo is expected to leave Fiorentina when his contract expires in the summer, with AC Milan, Juventus, and Barcelona reportedly linked with the 27-year-old. Brighton and RB Leipzig are among the clubs showing interest in Juventus' 19-year-old German Under-19s midfielder Adin Licina, who is currently on loan at Cremonese.