MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Mauricio Pochettino if Michael Carrick is sacked.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein claims that Old Trafford chiefs discussed personal terms with the Argentine tactician‘s representatives on Tuesday with “no issues anticipated.”

United would need to pay £7.4 million to release Pochettino from his USA contract if, as expected, they pull the trigger on Carrick’s departure.

Ornstein’s report suggests that US Soccer have yet to be contacted, with the squad currently preparing for two clashes against Haiti.

Red Devils icon Alex Ferguson has been pushing his former club to sign Pochettino for over a decade and this is the SIXTH time he has been in the frame since a lunch with the Scot in 2016.

Poch admitted previous interest in the role before taking charge of the Stars and Stripes at a home World Cup and suggested after signing a four-year post-tournament extension that he might not see it out.

He said: “Now we are thinking of spending four years with the USA but you can always break a contract, say you stop, and that’s it, you agree something.

“With a four-year contract, it’s different.

“We could lose Copa America or the Gold Cup, and they’re not happy with us, they can sack us, or we can say, ‘OK, it’s not in the way that we think’.”

With a game against fierce rivals Liverpool coming after the international break, United need to make a decision.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox flew to Monaco to meet co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe while Carrick continues to work at the club’s Carrington training complex.

They have to receive sign-off from Ratcliffe, who then has to OK the decision to part ways with the Glazer family.

SunSport revealed on Monday that Pochettino is open to taking over.

Talks may become complicated, especially when it comes to the rest of his backroom team, and the club risks needing to install a caretaker for the trip to Anfield on November 22.

The first training session for players back from international duty is scheduled for next Thursday.

United are 18th in the table with just one win in 10 Premier League matches and an angry fanbase growing increasingly impatient.

Even if Pochettino is hired, wider questions about the club’s owners, squad and long-term strategy remain.

US billionaire Ken Griffin is emerging as a key figure in the pursuit of the 54-year-old.

Griffin is close to United’s majority owners the Glazers and part-funds Pochettino’s £5m-a-year salary as US team boss.

His Citadel firm own shares in United and helped the Glazers fund their 2005 takeover.

Berrada is believed to be a fan of Pochettino and previously had him  on a list of potential replacements for Pep Guardiola during his time at Manchester City.

Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte, Fabian Hurzeler, Unai Emery and Julian Nagelsmann have also been mentioned.