Pochettino emerges as Carrick's likely successor at struggling Man United

Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as Manchester United’s primary managerial target should the club decide to part ways with Michael Carrick during the November international break, with the Argentine understood to be the bookmakers’ favourite to take charge at Old Trafford.

Carrick’s position has come under serious pressure after a wretched start to the Premier League season. United have collected just eight points from their opening ten matches, leaving them 18th in the table in what the club acknowledges is their worst start to a campaign in 40 years.

Director of sport Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada are scheduled to meet with Sir Jim Ratcliffe at a senior Ineos staff conference in Monaco, where they are expected to present a case for moving on from Carrick. Should Ratcliffe sanction a change, the international break would give the club a window to identify and appoint a successor.

Pochettino, 54, is currently contracted to manage the United States national team until 2031, but his deal is reported to contain a release clause worth $10 million (£7.44m). Added to the estimated £3m severance United would owe Carrick under a one-year break clause in his contract, the total cost of the managerial transition could exceed £10m.

The former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Southampton head coach is also known for an unusual but firmly held belief that lemons absorb negative energy — and would reportedly request that a box of them be kept in the manager’s office at all times. Pochettino addressed the habit directly in a previous appearance on The Overlap: “If you are not connecting with nature, it’s difficult. And I think, for me, 100 per cent. I really believe they have an effect in attracting the bad energy.”

Not everyone at the club is convinced a change is necessary. One alternative being considered is the appointment of Aaron Danks, the 43-year-old Bayern Munich assistant who works under Vincent Kompany in Bavaria and has a prior working relationship with Carrick. Whether Ratcliffe opts to act swiftly or give Carrick more time to turn results around is expected to become clearer following the Monaco meeting.