(Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States national team, has emerged as the favourite to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United's manager, as the club's board moves towards dismissing the 45-year-old following the team's stuttering start to the season, according to media reports.
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ESPN, citing sources, reported that Manchester United's board is weighing Carrick's future after the team managed only one win from their first ten Premier League matches. They sit 18th, level on goal difference with Sunderland in 19th, and one point ahead of bottom side Crystal Palace.
The sources said talks with Carrick will continue in the coming days, amid a growing belief among club officials that the decline in performances and results calls for a change in the coaching staff.
Pochettino (54) is the leading candidate for the job, having extended his contract with the United States national team until 2030, after leading them to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
According to a source who spoke to ESPN, the Argentine's contract, which has seen him manage Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, includes a release clause of $10 million, equivalent to around £7.4 million, which Manchester United would have to pay to secure his services.
Other names on the list of candidates include former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and German coach Julian Nagelsmann, who is not currently in a coaching role. Kieran McKenna, whom the club interviewed in 2024 and who has the backing of some officials at Old Trafford, is also under consideration.
Despite the range of options, Pochettino is seen as the closest candidate, thanks to his experience in the Premier League and his strong leadership qualities, having held interviews for the Manchester United job on three previous occasions.
Carrick took over the team on an interim basis in the middle of last season, and led them to qualification for the Champions League, which prompted the board to appoint him as permanent manager.
ESPN's sources said club officials regarded Carrick as deserving of a long-term contract, before being caught off guard by the sharp decline in performances and results this season.
Despite being given an extra chance last month to put things right, the team have won only one of their last four matches, a 3-2 win over Italy's Roma in the Champions League.
Manchester United prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November, after the international break.
United have not won the Premier League since 2013, the final season of Scottish manager Sir Alex Ferguson, despite later hiring prominent coaches including Portugal's José Mourinho and the Netherlands' Louis van Gaal.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville criticised the club's handling of Carrick's future, saying the board "have no idea what they should be doing".
Speaking to NBC, Neville said: "When a new manager arrives, everyone is happy for a few months, then six months later the same thing happens again. You can keep changing managers and believe that's the solution, but after eight managers in 12 years, it's clear that isn't the answer."
