Mauricio Pochettino: Man Utd close to agreeing deal with Michael Carrick's potential successor ahead of Monaco meeting

Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal with Mauricio Pochettino to become their next head coach if they decide to sack Michael Carrick.

USA boss Pochettino is being lined up as Carrick's successor with United preparing for a potential parting of ways.

Carrick reported to United's Carrington training ground on Wednesday morning at around 7.45am before it emerged that talks with Pochettino are advanced.

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Sky Sports News understands United would have to pay around £7m to buy out Pochettino from his newly-signed contract with the USA but this is not thought to be an issue for the club.

Pochettino is understood to be ready if United ultimately decide to make a change at head coach, which remains likely. He is set to take charge of the USA against Haiti on Saturday as things stand.

While Carrick is in Manchester, United's powerbrokers are set to make a decision on his future at a Monaco summit on Wednesday.

CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox had already been due to meet minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for a summit to review the club's start to the season.

But with United in the relegation zone after their worst start to a league campaign for 40 years, Carrick's future is increasingly in doubt and expected to be decided at the meeting.

Berrada and Wilcox have to make their recommendation to Ratcliffe, who has control of football operations at Old Trafford, before a final decision is made over Carrick.

Carrick was handed a stay of execution after United's 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League last month, but momentum is now gathering behind a change in the dugout.

Pochettino has long been admired by United, who have held talks with the Argentine on at least two occasions about taking over.

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Sporting (A) - Champions League - Wednesday November 25

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Man Utd's Poch pursuit comes full circle

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

Mauricio Pochettino and Manchester United have a well-established history. One where paths might have crossed long before now, numerous times, but somehow never managed to converge.

Could it be that we are finally to bear witness to the culmination of this elaborate 10-year dance of incompatible circumstances?

The Old Trafford hierarchy have always admired Pochettino from afar. He was on their radar while at Tottenham and again when it was clear his time at PSG was coming to an end. The Argentine was eventually lured back to the Premier League, but instead returned to London, signing with Chelsea.

All along this journey of complicated courtship, United were at play. There have been many sliding-door moments. At the time news broke of Chelsea's interest in Pochettino in 2023, United, coached by Erik ten Hag, had just been ripped to shreds by Sevilla.

The morning after that defeat all the back pages focussed on another humiliating capitulation in Europe. 'What the El was that?' one read. Another lay into the inadequacies of Harry Maguire's performance. No doubt both headlines have been recycled since. At United, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Miraculously, it took another 18 months for the button to be pushed on Ten Hag. Four managers of varying permanency followed. Until another chance, a decade on from the first, has revealed itself to pursue the one that got away. Is this finally right place, right time for Pochettino?

Read the full feature here...

Your views on Poch: 'Right choice 10 managers ago'

Banda6

Poch, nice guy by all accounts. But nice at United means nothing. He'll get eaten alive and spat out. United need a tough bloke to get under the skin of these over paid under performing players.

Gaz W

I don't think any manager in the world will get that team fighting for the title without serious change in recruitment and change at the top we'll be in exactly the same situation in 6-12 months time.

Abu

Another great manager who's going to end up being in the same scenario! Just another manager with the same results! It's the board! Not manager!

Shahzad Aziz

Why bring Poch when the issue are players with high salaries? Currently players have more say at a club then coaches. Players decide who they want to play for you can't make everyone happy.

kesh92

Poch is the Argentine Carrick. What's he going to do any different to Carrick? And Wilcox will be loving it knowing he wont have to buy any players and Poch will just use the youth players. Another circus show about to begin.

Kyle Brookes

Poch is a very good manager, would be very happy with him at United. The fans saying he's not good enough need to stop living in the past. We no longer attract world class managers and let's be honest there's only about 5 left in football.

Stuart J

Right choice about 10 managers ago… which elite club would appoint him now?

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