United target Pochettino as Carrick's Old Trafford exit edges closer

Manchester United are poised to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager, with the club’s hierarchy already working on a succession plan as Michael Carrick edges closer to the exit at Old Trafford.

Carrick, appointed as Ruben Amorim’s permanent successor less than six months ago, is understood to be on the verge of leaving despite the broader squad and structural issues widely seen as the root cause of United’s poor start to the season. It is Carrick, however, who appears set to bear the consequences.

Pochettino has been identified as the preferred candidate by United’s leadership group at Ineos. A key factor in his appeal is financial: although the 52-year-old signed a new four-year contract with the United States Men’s National Team in August, his deal is reported to contain a $10m (£7.43m) release clause — a sum that is both manageable for the club and one that could allow a deal to be concluded quickly.

Beyond the economics, Pochettino’s track record carries genuine weight. His tenure at Tottenham Hotspur remains highly regarded in north London, where he guided the club to the 2019 Champions League final before a dismissal that many at the time considered premature. His preference for a 4-2-3-1 system and an attacking, high-energy style of play is seen as a reasonable fit for United’s existing squad.

Christian Eriksen, who made 255 appearances under Pochettino at Spurs — more than any other player according to Transfermarkt — offered a telling account of what working with the Argentine is like. Speaking to United’s in-house media in 2023, Eriksen said: “I think, obviously, I had Poch for a lot longer than the other managers and I think what we did and what we created with him, the team we had, was incredible. Learning-wise, I did learn from Poch.”

Eriksen added: “You’d have the ball less in training than before but have the ball a lot more in the games. With him, there was a lot of tough training, a lot of running, which is important for the physical part. We were a young side so, for us, it was the perfect mix — and just in the game, to play free.”

That emphasis on running is particularly relevant given one of the sharpest criticisms levelled at United this season. According to Opta, the club have covered 1,125.2km so far in the campaign — the second-lowest distance recorded in the division — a statistic that has not gone unnoticed inside the club.

The timeline of any managerial change hinges on a key meeting in Monaco, where United’s decision-makers are expected to determine Carrick’s fate. Should the call be made to part ways, the groundwork for a Pochettino appointment is already in place.