Pochettino closes in on Manchester United job as dressing-room bust-up deepens Carrick crisis

Manchester United are closing in on the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, with the club set to pay a £7.5 million compensation fee to US Soccer to secure the Argentine’s services — even as the dressing room fractures around outgoing boss Michael Carrick.

The move comes after a turbulent period at Old Trafford that has left United in the Premier League relegation places. Carrick has continued to take training sessions at Carrington as normal in recent days, despite the club reportedly having held talks with Pochettino in secret before informing the current manager of his fate. Sources close to the dressing room told the Daily Mail that players feel Carrick has been “hung out to dry” by the club’s handling of the transition.

The unrest extends beyond the dugout. Summer signing Youri Tielemans and defender Lisandro Martinez reportedly clashed on the flight home from Madrid following United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico last month, after Martinez made critical comments about the club’s hierarchy. When asked about his team-mate’s remarks on camera, Tielemans offered only a terse “no comment”.

The episode is understood to have deepened divisions within the squad at a time when results have already pushed the club toward the bottom of the table. Several players had reportedly lobbied for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to be brought in as Carrick’s replacement. Emery was present at Old Trafford on Sunday as his Villa side drew 4-4 with United, a result that included a Patrick Dorgu stoppage-time equaliser that visibly frustrated the Spaniard on the touchline. Villa were not prepared to release their manager, and United turned instead to Pochettino.

The former Tottenham and Chelsea head coach may not be available immediately. Pochettino is currently committed to the United States national team for a two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti during the international break. Should he see out those fixtures, his first match in charge of United would come on 22 November, when the club travel to face Liverpool.