Manchester United Advancing in Talks to Appoint Mauricio Pochettino as New Manager

Manchester United are finalising contract terms with Mauricio Pochettino as a potential replacement for Michael Carrick after sliding into the Premier League relegation zone.

Manchester United Discuss Personal Terms with Mauricio Pochettino

Manchester United are advancing in discussions with Mauricio Pochettino to install him as their new head coach if the club decides to replace Michael Carrick, Eurofotbal reported on Tuesday. Representatives for Pochettino met with club officials on Tuesday to discuss personal terms, according to reports from The Athletic cited by Eurofotbal. Sources indicated that those discussions face no immediate roadblocks.

Appointing the 54-year-old Argentine would require Manchester United to negotiate with the United States Soccer Federation. Pochettino remains under contract with the US national team through the 2030 World Cup and is currently preparing the squad for CONCACAF Nations League matches against Haiti.

Eurofotbal said that the English club has not yet contacted the American governing body regarding a release clause, and hiring Pochettino would entail additional expenses to secure his preferred backroom staff.

The Athletic reported that Pochettino is the clear favorite for the role, awaiting a final decision from the Old Trafford board. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that talks are moving forward and that the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager wants the job.

Slide Down the Standings

The coaching uncertainty follows a dismal run of form that left Manchester United in 18th place in the Premier League table with eight points from 10 matches.

Carrick’s side has won just three of their last 15 fixtures across all competitions and sits in the relegation zone following a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa. Sport.cz reported that the team has failed to win a league match since August 30 and conceded 15 goals over their last five domestic outings.

Telegraph reported that after the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox celebrated the late equalizer, prompting questions about whether the result merely delayed an inevitable dismissal. Carrick expressed defiance when asked about his future by Sky Sports.

“To that, no,” said Michael Carrick, head coach, when asked if he would consider resigning, as reported by inFOTBAL.

When asked if he had seen enough from his team to turn the situation around, Carrick offered a direct response.

“Yes, a hundred percent. I think there’s more than enough. Goals change games, and that’s something we need to drastically improve. We’re making it too hard for ourselves at certain moments,” said Carrick.

Future Leadership Decisions

Carrick led training at the club’s Carrington base on Tuesday while Berrada and Wilcox traveled to Monaco for a pre-planned meeting with INEOS co-owner Jim Ratcliff.

BBC Sport reported that Manchester United also explored potential alternatives in October, holding discussions with Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, while Antonio Conte expressed interest in the position. Writing in The Guardian, Leander Schaerlaeckens argued that dismissals often reflect an illusion of control by club executives rather than a statistical solution to poor performances, noting that teams frequently regress toward their natural mean regardless of a dugout change.

Next Steps for the Club

Manchester United return to Premier League action on November 22 away against Liverpool at Anfield, entering that fixture from the relegation zone for the first time since March 1937.

More on this story: Mauricio Pochettino Is a Potential Candidate for Man United Vacancy · Manchester United Reaches Personal Agreement With Pochettino

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