Manchester United are reportedly putting the final pieces together on a deal that would see Mauricio Pochettino take over as head coach if Michael Carrick is removed from his position.

Pochettino, who currently manages the United States men’s national team, has emerged as United’s preferred replacement amid growing uncertainty over Carrick’s future at Old Trafford.

United’s poor run has intensified pressure on Carrick, with the club sitting in the Premier League relegation zone after a disappointing start to the campaign.

The club have won only three of their last 15 matches in all competitions, prompting senior officials to begin preparations for a possible change in the dugout.

According to reports, United spent Tuesday negotiating personal terms with Pochettino’s representatives. No major problems are expected in those discussions.

However, United have not yet approached U.S. Soccer regarding the Argentine’s release. His contract reportedly contains an exit clause worth about $10 million (£7.4 million), which would have to be paid to the federation before he could leave.

Pochettino has reportedly kept U.S. Soccer informed about United’s interest.

If the move goes ahead, members of his coaching staff are also expected to follow him to Manchester, meaning further compensation would be required.

The 54-year-old is currently preparing the United States for two Nations League matches against Haiti during the international break.

Pochettino remains under contract with the USMNT until the 2030 World Cup but has previously expressed his desire to return to European club management.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager is believed to be keen on the opportunity to take charge of United.

Pochettino’s managerial record

Pochettino took over as United States head coach in 2024 after Gregg Berhalter left following the country’s disappointing Copa America campaign.

He has won 21 of his 35 matches in charge of the USMNT.

At the most recent World Cup, Pochettino guided the co-hosts into the last 16 after winning three of their opening four matches. Their campaign ended with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium.

Before the tournament, Pochettino was also involved in discussions with AC Milan about its vacant managerial position, although the Italian giants eventually appointed former United manager Ruben Amorim.

Pochettino began his coaching career at Espanyol, where he had previously spent much of his playing career.

He later moved to Southampton, taking charge of the Premier League club for around 16 months before securing the Tottenham job in 2014.

At Spurs, Pochettino established the club as a regular top-four contender and took them to the Champions League final in 2019. He left later that year.

His next major assignment came at Paris Saint-Germain, where he won three trophies, including the Ligue 1 title during the 2021-22 season.

Pochettino subsequently managed Chelsea during the 2023-24 campaign before leaving the club in May 2024 and moving into international football with the United States.

A long-standing Manchester United target

Pochettino has been linked with Manchester United for nearly a decade.

His name first became strongly associated with the club in 2016, when then-Tottenham manager Pochettino reportedly had lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson at Scott’s Restaurant in Mayfair.

Jose Mourinho was eventually appointed United manager that summer, but Pochettino’s name resurfaced two years later after Mourinho’s dismissal.

At the time, the cost of buying out Pochettino’s Tottenham contract was reportedly around £42 million, while United instead appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on an interim basis.

Even after Pochettino became available following his departure from Tottenham in 2019, United opted to continue with Solskjaer.

Pochettino was interviewed by United in 2022 when Ralf Rangnick’s interim spell was coming to an end, but the club eventually selected Erik ten Hag.

He was also considered by United on two occasions in 2024 before the club eventually settled on Ruben Amorim.

His potential appointment would therefore represent another chapter in a long-running relationship between Pochettino and United.

His Premier League experience is regarded as one of the main reasons behind the club’s current interest.

He has managed teams fighting near the bottom of the table, as Southampton did, while also challenging for major honours with Tottenham.

Pochettino has additionally managed at the highest level in the Champions League and has experience dealing with high-profile players from his time at PSG and Chelsea.

His reputation for developing younger players could also appeal to United’s hierarchy, while his personality is understood to fit the type of manager preferred by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

There are nevertheless questions over whether United would be hiring Pochettino at the strongest point of his career.

However, his work at the World Cup was viewed positively, and his continued success with the USMNT has reportedly left him rejuvenated.

What Pochettino’s departure would mean for the United States

A move to Manchester would create an immediate problem for the United States, particularly with important Nations League fixtures approaching.

If Pochettino leaves before the upcoming matches against Haiti and takes his trusted assistants with him, U.S. Soccer could be forced to rely on an interim arrangement.

Steve Cherundolo is among the leading alternatives within the federation, although he is currently in Spain working with the United States Under-23 team as preparations begin for the 2028 Olympics.

In the longer term, however, the timing of Pochettino’s possible departure may be manageable for U.S. Soccer.

The former Tottenham manager has already completed much of his work for the year, including integrating younger players, maintaining the team’s culture and securing several victories.

Cherundolo could potentially oversee a December camp expected to focus heavily on young MLS-based players, giving U.S. Soccer several months to identify Pochettino’s replacement.

The federation would also have the benefit of compensation from Manchester United to help fund the transition.

The USMNT’s next major competitive fixtures are scheduled for March.

Pochettino’s legacy with the United States would be mixed if he leaves.

He would depart having improved the team from the position in which he found it, but he failed to win a trophy during his tenure. He also suffered a major disappointment at the World Cup when the United States were eliminated by Belgium in the last 16.

When Pochettino was appointed, U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone described the occasion as “a monumental day for U.S. Soccer.”

CEO JT Batson called the appointment “a step forward in our mission to compete at the highest level and make a lasting mark on the global soccer landscape.”

Broadcaster Andres Cantor also described the appointment as “an incredible moment which we will remember for years to come,” while predicting that Pochettino would “be able to take this team to the next level.”

Although the Argentine did not ultimately deliver a trophy