Manchester United finalising deal to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as Michael Carrick's replacement

Manchester United are finalising a deal to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, with current boss Michael Carrick expected to be sacked imminently, according to a report by David Ornstein in The Athletic.

The Red Devils sit 18th in the Premier League having managed just three wins across all competitions this season — a dramatic fall from the third-place finish they achieved last term. That slump has prompted the club’s hierarchy to move on from Carrick, who was handed a two-year deal following a successful interim stint in the second half of last season.

Pochettino, 54, is described as United’s “chosen candidate”, with CEO Omar Berrada among those backing the appointment. The Argentine is currently in charge of the United States men’s national team, a role he took on in 2024 after leaving Chelsea. Ornstein reports that United are yet to formally contact the US Soccer Federation, but that the process should be “straightforward should the plan proceed”. It also emerged that Pochettino would “jump at the chance” to take the Old Trafford role.

The move would end a long-running association between Pochettino’s name and the United job. The former Tottenham Hotspur manager has been linked with the position on multiple occasions over the past decade, with his work at Spurs — where he guided the club to the 2019 Champions League final — establishing him as one of the most coveted coaches in European football.

United have not yet officially dismissed Carrick, but the direction of travel appears clear. The club’s next Premier League fixture comes against Liverpool when domestic action resumes after the international break.