Man Utd close in on Mauricio Pochettino as Michael Carrick faces sack

Man Utd close in on Mauricio Pochettino as Michael Carrick faces sack Manchester United are finalising personal terms with Mauricio Pochettino as they prepare for a potential managerial change following their disastrous start to the season. According to The Athletic , United have identified the United States national team coach as their preferred replacement for Michael Carrick, whose position has become increasingly uncertain. The club spent Tuesday working towards an agreement with Pochettino’s representatives, with negotiations progressing without significant complications. However, United have yet to formally approach U.S. Soccer, which would be entitled to compensation if the Argentine leaves his current position. Pochettino’s contract runs until the 2030 World Cup and reportedly contains an exit clause worth approximately $10 million (£7.4m). Additional compensation would also be required for his coaching staff, who are expected to accompany him to Old Trafford if an appointment is completed. The 54-year-old is understood to be enthusiastic about the opportunity, having previously been considered for the United job on several occasions. His potential arrival would end another difficult managerial spell at Old Trafford, with Carrick overseeing just three victories in his last 15 matches. United have won only once in their opening 10 Premier League fixtures, leaving them in the relegation zone. Their recent Champions League comeback against Roma has provided little relief, with that result representing their only victory in 11 matches across all competitions. Carrick nevertheless remained in charge of training on Tuesday as United’s hierarchy continued discussions about the club’s direction. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox were also scheduled to travel to Monaco for meetings involving co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Although Carrick’s future was not originally a specific item on the agenda, the team’s struggles are expected to feature in discussions. Pochettino offers considerable Premier League experience, having previously managed Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. He established Tottenham as regular Champions League contenders and guided them to the 2019 final before later winning the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine took charge of the United States in 2024 and led them to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated by Belgium. His team are currently preparing for two Nations League fixtures against Haiti, potentially complicating the timing of any departure. United have previously considered appointing Pochettino, including before Erik ten Hag’s arrival in 2022 and Ruben Amorim’s appointment in 2024. While negotiations appear advanced, Carrick has not formally been dismissed and an agreement with U.S. Soccer remains outstanding. Those developments must be resolved before Pochettino can complete a long-anticipated move to Old Trafford.