Mauricio Pochettino is edging closer to a Premier League return with Manchester United after talks with the club’s hierarchy advanced. United are moving towards sacking Michael Carrick after a poor start left them 18th with just one win in 10 games.
According to The Athletic, Pochettino has emerged as United’s first choice to replace Carrick after agreeing personal terms. Sky Sports described the agreement as preliminary, with any appointment still dependent on a final decision over Carrick and a resolution of Pochettino’s contract with the US Soccer Federation.
Reports suggest Pochettino is willing to pay around $10 million out of his own pocket to trigger the release clause in his contract as US head coach. The Argentine is prepared to make that financial sacrifice to return to European football and take the opportunity to manage a club of United’s stature.
British outlets have offered a different account of who would foot the bill. Sky Sports expects United to pay the compensation, while The Guardian puts the release clause at around $10 million. According to talkSPORT, the total cost of bringing in Pochettino and his coaching staff could reach $12 million.
United have paid a comparable fee to bring in a manager mid-season before. Sporting CP announced that they had received €11 million to release Rúben Amorim from his contract when he moved to Old Trafford in November 2024.
Pochettino began his coaching career at Espanyol before making his name in the Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham, whom he led to the Champions League final in 2019. He went on to win Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain before returning to England for a season with Chelsea.
The Argentine extended his contract with US Soccer through the 2030 World Cup, and the United States are preparing for two games against Haiti on 14 and 18 November. The timing of his departure is one of the details United are looking to settle before the Premier League resumes.
If Pochettino takes charge before club football returns, his first game will be against Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November. United then travel to Lisbon to face Sporting in the Champions League three days later, before he makes his Old Trafford debut against Brentford.
