Pictured: Michael Carrick arrives at Carrington before Manchester United sack meeting

Red Devils boss is expected to be relieved of his duties later on Thursday

Michael Carrick has been pictured arriving at Carrington for the final time as Manchester United manager.

The under-fire Man Utd boss gave a thumbs up as he was photographed driving into the car park at the club’s training base early on Thursday morning.

Carrick is expected to be sacked by United at Carrington later in the day in a face-to-face meeting with United’s CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, who are both now back in the UK following their crucial talks with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday.

It was decided in that summit after weeks of speculation that Carrick would be relieved of his duties after an abysmal start to the season that has seen United win only one of their first 10 Premier League games and sit in the relegation zone heading into the final international break of 2026.

United are believed to be lining up Mauricio Pochettino as Carrick’s replacement, with an official approach now understood to have been made to US Soccer and an agreement close on personal terms with a candidate they have spoken to on multiple occasions in the past and who is known to be keen on the role.

However, it remains to be seen when exactly Pochettino will take the reins at Old Trafford, with suggestions that he could yet remain in charge of the United States national team for their upcoming two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final tie.

The USA play Haiti in Miami on Saturday, before facing the same opponents in Cincinnati in a match that takes place overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, UK time.

United’s first game back after the international break is away to rivals Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday (November 22), after which they travel to Sporting in the Champions League and then host Brentford during a hectic fixture list in the run-up to Christmas.

The USA are understood to be targeting Pep Guardiola as a potential replacement for Pochettino, who will cost $10million (£7.5m) to release from a contract that was only extended until 2030 following the World Cup on home soil in the summer.

It is reported that United will have to pay more to secure members of his backroom team, including long-time assistant Jesus Perez.

Guardiola has been out of work since ending his trophy-laden 10-year spell in charge at Manchester City at the end of last season and has already been offered one foray into international management with Italy, but turned it down.