Manchester United have moved to open negotiations with Mauricio Pochettino regarding the manager position, as the club prepares to part ways with Michael Carrick. The leadership is currently meeting in Monaco to finalize decisions on the team’s future, with key figures including co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox in attendance. The main issue to be decided is Carrick’s future and what should happen next, on this occasion. How close is Carrick to Man United exit. Follow Manchester United on Sounds. Pre-match, post-match and topical United content.
The club hierarchy is widely expected to recommend that Carrick be relieved of his duties following a dismal start to the campaign. United currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, firmly within the relegation zone, having secured only one victory in their opening 10 matches. This record marks the club’s worst start to a top-flight season since the 1986-87 campaign, when they held 20th place at the same stage. United are 18th in the Premier League – inside the relegation zone – after winning just one of their first 10 games and none since August.
Pochettino, who is currently managing the USA national team, has been linked with the United role multiple times previously, including during vacancies in 2018, 2022, and 2024. The 54-year-old manager is subject to a $10m (£7.5m) release clause. Despite having renewed his contract with the USA in August, his potential return to English football is now the subject of active discussions. Then in 2022 before the club appointed Erik ten Hag and again when the Dutchman was sacked in 2024, united have spoken to the ex-Argentina defender about their managerial position on three previous occasions – when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2018.
The coach’s extensive Premier League experience includes a tenure at Southampton starting in 2013 and a notable five-year period at Tottenham, where he reached a Champions League final. Before a five-year stint at Tottenham from 2014 that included a Champions League final appearance, pochettino’s first job in the Premier League was at Southampton from January 2013.
Following his time in north London, he managed Paris St-Germain and spent the 2023-24 season leading Chelsea. He managed Paris St-Germain from January 2021 to July 2022 before spending the 2023-24 season in charge of Chelsea.
He took the helm of the USA national team in September 2024, successfully guiding the co-hosts to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
As these talks proceed, the USA side is preparing for a two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final match against Haiti scheduled for the coming week. Meanwhile, Carrick was observed arriving at the Carrington training complex on Wednesday morning.
