BBC Sport reported on Thursday that while club sources say Michael Carrick will remain in charge for Sunday's match, Manchester United have already begun the process of identifying possible replacements.

Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann are understood to have their eyes on the Old Trafford job.

It is important to note that Antonio Conte has not mentioned Manchester United by name in his social media statement.

The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss has been linked with a number of clubs since leaving his last post at Napoli, including United and Juventus.

However, a recent report in Italy, external said that United had "sounded out" Conte and the Italian had demanded "full powers" to take Michael Carrick's role at Old Trafford.

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Here is the full statement from Antonio Conte, which he has released on his Instagram story:

"Following recent media reports in Italy and abroad, I feel it is appropriate to clarify my position.

"My name has been linked with numerous clubs, but there are currently no negotiations at an advanced stage. Following a wonderful and successful spell in charge of Napoli, I will take the time I need to consider how and when to return to management. It will be a carefully considered decision, one I will make when I believe the conditions are right.

"I have read reports of financial demands and requests for full control that I have supposedly already made to the clubs mentioned, as well as reservations about what has been described as my “strong personality”. These reports are unfounded, as there is currently no concrete basis for such assessments.

"Should a concrete opportunity arise, that will be the time to hold discussions with the club concerned and jointly consider the terms of a potential agreement, with due regard for both parties’ needs and the qualities and approach that define my work as a manager.

"Until then, any assumptions about my demands and my professional future remain speculation and cannot be treated as fact."

Antonio Conte has written a response on social media to reports linking him with the Manchester United job, saying that "no negotiations" he is involved in are at an "advanced stage".

The Italian, who has not worked since leaving his last position with Napoli, said that he "will take the time to consider" his next move and that "conditions" need to be "right".

Full quotes to follow.

We will come back to Fabian Hurzeler in a moment, following an update on rumours linking former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte with a move back to the Premier League...

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on Liverpool's Florian Wirtz:

"I'm excited to see my playmaker [Pascal Gross], not their playmaker!

"Wirtz, of course, is an incredible player. It's impressive what he has done in his young career and I think he is adapting more and more to the Premier League.

"It's always a joy to see these kind of players but it is important for us to stop him and not stop him in one v one situation because he will be too good.

"We have to stop him as a team. Liverpool is not only Wirtz, they have a lot of other individual quality. It will be a lot about our team performance.

"We can still improve our performances because we have to lift our levels. We not only have to maintain standards, we have to lift them."

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on if his side are title contenders:

"No! We go game by game, we try to focus on performance.

"Just yesterday I had a conversation with the players and I love the way they are thinking. They said 'we don't want to focus on results, we want to focus on performances and how we get better, how we can improve because then the results will come'.

"Then we can speak at the end of the season about where we are, where we should have been. But now it is solution-focused, process-orientated and trying to get the best out of the players."

Brighton & Hove Albion

Here are those quotes in full from Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on being linked with the Manchester United job:

"I'm really focused on my job here. I have no time to think about these rumours because we play every three days and, beside that, I have a lot of respect for Michael Carrick and what he has done with Manchester United the last season.

"He's a great human being, a great personality. There's nothing more to say about that."

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Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler was asked about reports that he is a potential candidate to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United.

He says he is fully focused on his job at Brighton and has no time to think about such rumours.

Hurzeler added that he has full respect for Carrick and the job he is doing at Old Trafford.

Full quotes to follow.

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton have been a revelation so far this season and sit third after a string of impressive results.

The Seagulls have won their past four Premier League games, scoring 15 goals without reply, including 5-0 wins over Coventry and Crystal Palace and a 3-0 thumping of Arsenal.

Next up is a tantalising trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. The Reds are yet to win at home in the league this season but have won their past three games in all competitions.

It's another exciting test for Brighton and we'll hear what Hurzeler has had to say about it next...

Right, we are moving on from third-bottom Fulham to Brighton, who are flying high in third place after a superb start to the season...

Fulham

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A final word from Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa on team news.

He said "everybody is available" for Saturday's game at Coventry, except for Ryan Sessegnon, who will miss the next three matches through suspension:

“It has been a good week for everybody, preparing for an important game. Everybody is fit, everybody is available for tomorrow – [as of] before this training session.

"We will see later, but everybody's good.

“Hugo Larsson is okay. Emile Smith Rowe had some issues after the last training session last Friday, but yesterday he completed all training sessions, so I think he will be available, but we will see later.”

Fulham

Fulham know that three points at Coventry could move them out of the bottom three and Alvaro Arbeloa says he is keen to see further improvement from his side following last weekend's first league win over Hull.

Their only previous victories of the Spaniard's tenure had been in the EFL Cup.

The Cottagers face a last-16 tie at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday before a tough run of fixtures in the Premier League, either side of November's international break.

Here are Fulham's next five games:

• Coventry (a)
• Crystal Palace (h) - EFL Cup last 16
• Aston Villa (a)
• Newcastle (h)
• Man City (a)

Fulham

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Alvaro Arbeloa on whether his game plan against Coventry will change following Fulham's 1-0 win over Hull City:

"Nothing has changed for us. When we weren't winning games we still believed that we were doing things well. Now we have the reward we were looking for. Now it's another game and we need to fight again for the win.

"When you are working and not winning, it is not easy. It wasn't easy for us against Hull and against Coventry it will not be easy again.

"If you are winning a game one nil, you will not win calmly in this league. Your rival, they will be more direct, they will put the ball in your box.

"It is not easy for everyone in a tight game. I think we did well, better than before. That is all about it, improve every week."

Fulham

Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa on whether a weight has been lifted from him after claiming a first league win last weekend against Hull City:

"It's important for a coach, but I don't feel it for me. It's about the players and the supporters that they deserve this win.

"The supporters, they were behind us the whole time. The work the players have done over the past couple of weeks has been incredible and they kept their belief and they deserve it."

Manchester City are top of the Premier League, three points above defending champions Arsenal, after winning their first seven league games under new manager Enzo Maresca.

The league leaders face a tough trip to in-form Aston Villa in Saturday's early kick-off.

Mid-table Ipswich begin the weekend programme on Friday night with the visit of Nottingham Forest (19th), who find themselves in the bottom three after a tricky start to life under Oliver Glasner.

Bottom side Sunderland finish off the weekend, hosting Leeds in Sunday's 4.30pm slot.

Regis Le Bris' side slipped to the foot of the table after their 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last time out, replacing Fulham at the bottom.

The Cottagers (18th) remain in the bottom three despite claiming a first league win under manager Alvaro Arbeloa last weekend.

Arbeloa's quotes are coming up next...