Manchester United have dismissed Michael Carrick after a disastrous start to the 2026-27 Premier League campaign left them in the relegation zone. Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the leading replacement, with reports indicating that the Argentine has reached an agreement in principle with the club.
Manchester United have parted company with Michael Carrick after just one league victory in their opening 10 Premier League matches, bringing an end to his spell at Old Trafford following a dramatic decline in results. The decision was confirmed on Thursday, 12 November, after club executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox reviewed the team's performances with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. United are 18th in the Premier League with eight points, having gone nine matches without a victory.
Their recent struggles included a 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth, a 2-0 loss to Chelsea and a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa, which proved insufficient to change the club's direction. United's hierarchy had initially given Carrick three additional fixtures to demonstrate improvement following earlier defeats. However, the subsequent results failed to convince the decision-makers that the team were moving in the right direction.
Pochettino emerges as leading replacement
Mauricio Pochettino is now the leading candidate to replace Carrick, with Sky Sports and other British media reporting that United have reached an agreement in principle with the former Tottenham Hotspur manager.
Pochettino currently manages the United States men's national team and signed a contract extension in August that keeps him in charge until 2030. Reports indicate that United could need to pay around £7.5 million to activate his release clause, with further compensation potentially required for his coaching staff. The Argentine is expected to remain involved with the USA for their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final fixtures against Haiti on 14 and 17 November.
United's next Premier League assignment is a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, 22 November.The timing presents a challenge for the club's next manager, who could have limited time to work with the squad before taking charge of one of English football's biggest rivalries. Pochettino's appointment has not yet been officially confirmed, but United's pursuit of the Argentine represents a significant step in their attempt to turn around a difficult season.
