By Amaechi Agbo

Former Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino is finalising an agreement to become the next head coach of Manchester United, with current manager Michael Carrick on the brink of being sacked.

Negotiations are rapidly progressing between Manchester United directors and Pochettino’s representatives. The 54-year-old Argentine tactician has made it clear he would jump at the chance to take over at Old Trafford, meaning he is prepared to leave his role as head coach of the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) immediately if a final deal is struck.

Current manager Michael Carrick is at serious risk and is widely expected to be dismissed in the coming hours.

Carrick, who was handed a permanent two-year contract just this past offseason after a successful interim spell, has overseen a historically disastrous start to the 2026/27 campaign. Manchester United currently languishes in 18th place—the Premier League’s relegation zone—having secured just a single league victory all season.

Despite a chaotic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday, club leadership has run out of patience. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox have flown to Monaco today for a crucial, long-planned summit with INEOS co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Berrada and Wilcox are set to formally recommend Carrick’s sacking, with Ratcliffe expected to rubber-stamp the decision immediately.

Carrick arrived at United’s Carrington training base early Wednesday morning to lead training, but the general consensus among the squad is that his departure is imminent.

Pochettino only signed a four-year contract extension with U.S. Soccer in August 2026 after leading the USMNT to the Round of 16 at the home World Cup. To secure his services, Manchester United will have to trigger a hefty buyout clause estimated at $10 million (£7.5 million).

Furthermore, United is prepared to pay additional compensation to bring over Pochettino’s trusted, long-standing backroom staff, including assistant Jesús Pérez, Miki D’Agostino, and goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez. Club sources insist that the financial package is “not a problem” for the hierarchy.

The timing of the move introduces a significant logistical hurdle. The USMNT is scheduled to play a crucial two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final series against Haiti, starting this Saturday. While Pochettino has been running training camp normally in Georgia, his camp’s active dialogue with United indicates he is ready to pivot back to club football immediately once the green light is given.

Internal meetings will continue throughout the day in Monaco. With former candidates like Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann slipping down the pecking order, Pochettino has emerged as the unanimous favorite to step into the Old Trafford dugout.

If finalized, Pochettino’s first game in charge of Manchester United would be a baptism of fire: a away trip to face bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.