Manchester United finalising deal for Pochettino if Carrick is sacked
Abdullateef Fowewe
Manchester United are finalising personal terms with Mauricio Pochettino to become their next head coach if the club decides to replace Michael Carrick, according to a report by David Ornstein.
The 54-year-old Argentine, currently in charge of the United States men’s national team, has been lined up as the preferred candidate.
Terms are being agreed with his representatives, with no major issues anticipated.
United have not yet contacted U.S. Soccer, but the process is expected to be straightforward if they proceed, as Pochettino’s contract includes a release clause of around $10 million (£7.4m).
Additional compensation would be required if he brings his staff.
Pochettino, who is under contract with the USMNT until the 2030 World Cup after extending in the summer, has long wanted the Old Trafford job and is eager to take it.
He is currently preparing the US side for Concacaf Nations League quarter-final ties against Haiti.
Background on Carrick’s position
Carrick’s future is under intense scrutiny after United’s worst start to a Premier League season.
The side sit 18th in the table with just one win from 10 matches (eight points), deep in the relegation zone following a dramatic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa.
They have managed only three wins in 15 games across all competitions.
The former United midfielder was appointed permanent head coach on a two-year deal in May 2026 after an impressive interim spell.
He had stepped in during January following the sacking of Ruben Amorim and guided the team to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification. Club hierarchy, including co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, are discussing the situation in Monaco this week.
A decision is expected before United’s next league game against Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November.
Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol before successful spells at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, where he established the club as a consistent top-four side and led them to the 2019 Champions League final.
He later managed Paris Saint-Germain winning Ligue 1 and Chelsea, before taking the USMNT job in 2024.
He guided the co-hosts to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
United have considered him on multiple previous occasions, dating back to a 2016 lunch meeting involving Sir Alex Ferguson when he was at Tottenham.
He was linked again in 2018–19, interviewed around the end of Ralf Rangnick’s interim period in 2022 losing out to Erik ten Hag and considered in 2024.
This would potentially mark the realisation of a long-standing mutual interest.
Any move would represent another rapid managerial change at Old Trafford and leave U.S. Soccer seeking a successor, though the timing after the World Cup cycle is viewed as relatively manageable for the federation.
