Why Manchester United face a race against time to confirm Mauricio Pochettino appointment

A swift hire is expected at Old Trafford with Michael Carrick set to be sacked

Manchester United could be in a race against time to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager.

It has been widely reported that the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss is in line to become the next head coach at Old Trafford, with talks under way and personal terms close to being finalised.

Pochettino would replace Michael Carrick, who remains in post but is expected to be sacked following a meeting of the United hierarchy that is due to take place in Monaco on Wednesday.

It is understood that a final decision to dismiss Carrick has yet to be taken, but that CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are likely to recommend to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that a change is made in an attempt to halt United’s alarming run of form that has seen them win just one of their opening 10 Premier League matches and sit in the relegation zone heading into the November international break.

Pochettino has emerged as United’s No1 option to succeed Carrick, with the club understood to be willing to pay the $10million (£7.5m) release clause in his contract with the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT), which was only extended until 2030 after this summer’s World Cup on home soil.

The Argentine has spoken to United on multiple occasions in the past and is known to be keen on the job, moving clear of the likes of Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte in the race.

Mauricio Pochettino only signed a contract extension with the USA back in August

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They initially take on Haiti in Miami on Saturday, before playing the second fixture in Cincinnati next Wednesday. The USMNT close 2026 with a friendly against Jamaica in Fort Lauderdale on December 13.

The first leg against Haiti has been relocated from Kingston in an “exceptional hosting arrangement”, with Haiti having been unable to stage home matches in their own country since 2021.

Pochettino has been in charge of the USMNT since succeeding Gregg Berhalter in the aftermath of the 2024 Copa America tournament, finishing as a runner-up in last year’s Gold Cup and also leading the team to the last 16 of a World Cup co-hosted by the United States earlier this year.

The USMNT, United and Pochettino will surely all look to have the situation resolved before those games against Haiti, with struggling United returning from the international break with a huge game away against fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.

Pochettino is due to address reporters on Friday ahead of the first leg against Haiti in a pre-match press conference, though the USA have cancelled media access scheduled for Wednesday in observance of Veterans Day.