Manchester United’s search for a new head coach has moved into a fast-moving, behind-the-scenes phase, with Pochettino now among the leading names on the table. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss is reported to be ready to accept the role if the club makes an official approach, with Carrick’s position expected to be resolved shortly.
Carrick’s long-term position at Old Trafford is set to be discussed at a meeting in Monaco attended by chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe also in the mix. United’s internal decision-making is understood to focus on whether Carrick is relieved of duties and what the next appointment should be.
United sit 18th in the Premier League, inside the relegation zone, after winning just one of their opening 10 matches and failing to secure a victory since August. For supporters, that context matters: even a short delay in appointing a new manager can limit how quickly United reshape performances and selection patterns across key league fixtures.
Timing and contract details complicate any appointment
Pochettino, 54, is currently in charge of the USA and is expected to remain involved in international commitments before any club switch can be completed. USA’s schedule includes a two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Haiti over the coming week, which would make any rapid transition logistically tricky if United move immediately.
There is also the financial and contractual element. Pochettino is reported to have a release clause in his current contract worth $10m (£7.5m), and the deal is understood to have been signed in August. In the same reporting, the expectation is that United would have to act quickly and decisively to meet any contractual deadlines.
Pochettino’s reported preference is to remain respectful to the US Soccer Federation, meaning he is not pushing the process through unofficial channels. Instead, he wants the job formally offered by United once Carrick’s future is clarified.
Why Pochettino fits the brief
United have previously spoken to Pochettino on three earlier occasions—most notably in the aftermath of managerial departures in 2018, 2022 and 2024—suggesting the club see him as a realistic fit rather than a last-minute gamble.
His track record includes a five-year spell at Tottenham that featured a run to a Champions League final, plus domestic and European experience with Paris Saint-Germain and a lengthy top-flight managerial career across multiple leagues. That matters to United as they look for a coach who can organise quickly, improve risk management in games, and stabilise results during a season where points are now pressing.
If United’s next steps proceed as expected following the Monaco discussions, the club could move swiftly on a shortlist that has gradually narrowed, even while Pochettino’s USA commitments add a practical time limit to any takeover.
