Pochettino favourite to replace Carrick as United hierarchy meet over manager's future

Manchester United’s hierarchy, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrarda, are meeting in Monaco to determine Michael Carrick’s future as manager, with the club reportedly close to agreeing terms with Mauricio Pochettino should they decide to move on.

Carrick’s position has become increasingly precarious after United’s worst start to a Premier League season in 40 years. The club have won just once in the top flight this campaign and sit 18th in the table after 10 games, deep in the relegation zone during the international break.

Sunday’s 4-4 draw at home to Aston Villa — in which United twice fought back from two goals down — extended their Premier League winless run to eight matches. While the comeback showed a degree of resilience, it was not enough to silence growing calls for a change in the dugout.

Carrick had already survived one round of crisis talks with the club’s leadership following defeats to Como and Bournemouth last month, when he was given time to turn results around. A Champions League victory over Roma last week, also from two goals down, briefly eased the pressure, but speculation over his future resumed almost immediately after the Villa draw.

The Independent understands that contact has been made with United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino regarding the Old Trafford role. The Argentine, who previously managed Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, is currently the leading candidate to succeed Carrick if the club decide to act.

Manchester United fans have largely rallied behind Carrick, particularly in the wake of the two high-profile comebacks, but the results in the Premier League have left the hierarchy with little room to wait. No formal decision had been announced at the time of writing, with the Monaco meeting set to determine the club’s next steps.