Manchester United sack Carrick and move to sign Pochettino in £7.5m deal

Manchester United are poised to sack Michael Carrick on Thursday, with Mauricio Pochettino lined up as his replacement after club executives agreed to pay a £7.5 million release clause to bring the Argentine back to the Premier League.

The decision was reached following a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday between minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, and sporting director Jason Wilcox, who collectively recommended a change in the dugout. The Glazers subsequently signed off on that recommendation.

Carrick, who was appointed permanent manager in the summer after initially taking over from Ruben Amorim on an interim basis, leaves with United sitting in the relegation zone after just one win from their opening ten Premier League matches — the club’s worst start to a top-flight season in 40 years.

The 43-year-old had been given a three-game window to salvage his position following defeats to Como and Bournemouth last month. Back-to-back results — a win against Roma and a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa — offered a brief reprieve, but ultimately proved insufficient to change the minds of United’s decision-makers.

Carrick signed a contract through to 2028 earlier this year, though it is understood a one-year break clause was inserted into his reported £5 million-per-year deal, leaving United liable for approximately £3 million in compensation.

Pochettino, 52, holds a contract with US Soccer until 2030 and had been expected to lead the United States at the 2026 World Cup on home soil. United’s approach will require them to trigger his release clause, understood to be in the region of £7.5 million.

Should the appointment be confirmed, Pochettino will inherit a squad deep in a relegation battle, with the task of reversing a run of form that has alarmed supporters and ownership alike just months into the new season.