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Mauricio Pochettino has been made aware of the perils of taking the Manchester United job as he edges closer to replacing Michael Carrick.

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The Athletic’s David Ornstein understands Pochettino is finalising an agreement to leave his role as United States head coach and become the next United manager.

Director of football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada are expected to recommend sacking Carrick in a meeting with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco today.

Should United replace Carrick with Pochettino, the Argentine will become their eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in May 2013.

Ferguson, the greatest manager in United's history, left the club at the top of English football when announcing his retirement from coaching.

The Red Devils won their 13th Premier League title under the legendary Ferguson in his final season in charge in 2012-13.

However, United have not won the league since then, nor the Champions League since 2008, with several managers struggling to return the club to its former glory.

And therefore Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes the United job is no quick fix for any manager - even if he does believe Pochettino is a world-class coach.

Asked about Pochettino’s impending arrival, Merson told Sky Sports: “He's got experience, major experience. He's worked in the Premier League a lot of times.

“If they get rid of Michael Carrick, they're not bringing someone in who's going to take six months to get used to the Premier League. This man's a top, top manager.

“Man United are not one of the biggest teams anymore, but they've still got one of the biggest expectations in football and that is the problem.

“I think Man United are, and this is no disrespect, a mid-table team.

“We keep on talking about Man United of 15 years ago, when they had Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and top draw players. It's not the case anymore.”

Merson takes aim at United's transfer policy

Various publications understand United will have to pay €8.9million ($10m/£7.5m) in compensation to prize Pochettino and his staff away from the USMNT.

But while Merson believes that figure is a bargain, he insists Pochettino will find it difficult to revitalise United unless they change their current transfer policy.

The 20-time league champions, who are reportedly €1.375billion (£1.15bn) in debt, have targeted players from outside the top six in the Premier League in recent seasons.

United signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford respectively last summer, and Carlos Baleba from Brighton and Hove Albion in August.

“I don't think Carrick could go, but if they could get Pochettino for £7m, that's a cheap deal,” former Arsenal and England midfielder Merson added.

“He's a good manager, but I think Michael Carrick can be a very good manager. They've just done it the wrong way round in all the transfer windows.

“They're into buying players in the market who are a flip of a coin. They might be good, or they might not, and that's not how you do it at Man United.

“With the financial rules now, it's going to be difficult for them to get anywhere near back to where they were 15, 20, and 25 years ago.

“It's a great club and a massive club, but the expectations of managing that type of club, and where you've got to finish in the league, are very, very high, and I think that's what sometimes puts managers off.”

United, who are languishing in 18th place in the Premier League table, have won just one of their last 11 games, with their last clean sheet coming in September.

Should Pochettino replace Carrick at the helm, his first game in charge of United will be against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, 22 November, following the international break.

The 54-year-old, who has previously managed Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton in England, has long been touted as a future United manager.