Manchester United are on the verge of sacking a sixth permanent manager in 10 years while sitting down in the Premier League's relegation zone after 10 games.

Could anyone have predicted this?

Well, actually, yes.

The Red Devils have lurched from crisis to crisis ever since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013. One of the most successful teams in English football history has been a shadow of its former self since then, with no league titles and just five major trophies.

In the still-young 2026-27 campaign, though, Michael Carrick has presided over what is perhaps the worst spell for the club in half a century, and there is a genuine possibility that there will be no Manchester clubs in the English top flight next season.

While Carrick is set to take the fall for the club's current predicament, the truth is United have been on a death spiral for some time. Dreadful ownership, shocking boardroom decisions and a crumbling stadium have all contributed to significant fan unrest.

Now, it seems Mauricio Pochettino will be parachuted in from the United States to try to turn things around, with The Guardian reporting that a deal is close to completion. The Argentinian has significant Premier League experience across spells with Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and he's considered one of the best managers in the game.

Assuming he does turn up at Old Trafford, who stands to be the winners and losers of the appointment?

Ahead, we've looked at the parties who will be jumping for joy and those who will be licking their wounds.

Winners: Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox

While Carrick is on the way out, Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are likely keeping their jobs despite many seeing the pair as responsible for most of the club's woes since their arrivals in 2024.

The former was one of the first major hires of the INEOS era, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreeing to the appointment as he finalized his company's controlling stake in the club. Berrada arrived from cross-city neighbors Manchester City to oversee operations.

Shortly after, Wilcox was appointed after a stint as Southampton's director of football. He had worked with Berrada while in the blue half of Manchester.

But their respective tenures at the club have been littered with issues. Wilcox butted heads with previous manager Ruben Amorim over recruitment and tactical philosophy, eventually leading to a fractured relationship and the Portuguese coach's departure. 

In October, defender Lisandro Martinez openly called Wilcox out during a post-match press conference following defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, saying, "I expect more [investment], 100%. I expect more from our technical director."

Meanwhile, Berrada is the club's major decision-maker, and the state of things at the moment falls squarely on his shoulders. His links to Manchester City, both in terms of the local rivalry and the club's 114 charges for breaking the Premier League's financial rules, have brought distrust and suspicion among supporters. 

But the pair will not have to clear out their desks in United's backroom, unlike Carrick. Pochettino's arrival could finally be the turning point at the club, but it feels like the rot at Old Trafford goes much deeper than that. Berrada and Wilcox are in the positions to root out the decay, but they've done little so far to suggest they have the capability to do so. 

Losers: The USMNT

Optimism among the United States men's national team is at an all-time high following a runners-up medal at the 2025 Gold Cup and a World Cup tournament, partially on home soil, that saw them top their group and reach the round of 16.

A lot of that is down to Mauricio Pochettino, the most accomplished and respected manager to ever take charge of the USMNT. While some expected the Argentinian to move on to bigger things after the World Cup concluded, he instead signed a new deal to lead the Stars and Stripes through to the 2030 edition of the competition.

However, the Manchester United job remains a big deal, even when considering the club's current situation. While it seems the vacancy opens up frequently, Pochettino will find it hard to turn down the opportunity.

With the 54-year-old's potential departure, it feels like the USMNT goes back to square one. Getting him on board was a significant coup for the United States Soccer Federation, and it might be hard to attract that caliber of coach again when it searches for a new appointment.

Winners: Manchester United Players

While Carrick isn't a bad manager, showing signs of promise in what is still a young career in the dugout, playing under Pochettino would be a significant upgrade for the Manchester United players.

The Argentinian's experience and tactical understanding are far more refined than the Englishman's, with an established style of play that is positive, intense and thrilling. 

Let's not forget the near miracles he performed at Tottenham Hotspur. Pochettino took a club that habitually underperformed and turned it into a Premier League force, guiding the north Londoners into the Champions League with regularity and arguably putting Harry Kane on the path to Ballon d'Or glory. 

Spurs finished second in the Premier League in 2016-17, and reached the Champions League final in 2018-2019. Even considering United's long history of major titles, the players and most of the club's fans would bite your hand off if you offered them a season that finished even close to silverware.

While the players will likely harbor no ill will towards Carrick, Pochettino's potential arrival will be a game-changer.

Losers: Teams in the Relegation Zone

Most football fans would assume that United are too big to go down. However, under Carrick, there was a lingering feeling that the Red Devils were set for a dramatic drop to the Championship. 

For teams in and around the relegation zone, having Manchester United among the bunch was mildly comforting. A team in disarray and dropping points with reckless abandon made their respective situations seem less severe, especially so early in the season. With another side taking up a spot in the bottom three, the chances of falling into the second tier might have felt less likely.

But you can only assume that Pochettino would bring positive change to Old Trafford. While a title challenge or even a place in the top half seems out of reach, United surely wouldn't get worse under the Argentinian, and he should be able to drag them out of a humiliating relegation battle. 

Winners: Manchester United Fanbase

Hope is in short supply among Manchester United fans. Another manager arriving to right the ship is something they are now sadly familiar with, and a change in the dugout hasn't done much to improve the club's fortunes in the last decade and a half.

But Pochettino's potential appointment feels at least a little different. Unlike managers Louis van Gaal, Erik ten Hag, and Ruben Amorim, the Argentinian would rock up in Manchester with significant Premier League experience. And unlike David Moyes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick, Pochettino has been involved in serious title challenges and has gone deep in European competitions.

This would be the highest-profile appointment the club has made since Sir Alex retired, and the expectations will be high. Pochettino's style of play would also suit the supporters who have missed a team that attacks with confidence and pace.

While the true hope is that the Glazers and INEOS will leave Manchester and never return, and that Wilcox and Berrada will be sent packing, Pochettino taking charge would be at least one hopeful sign for the club's future.