Manchester United have reached an agreement in principle with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as head coach if Michael Carrick is sacked.
Carrick took training at Carrington on Wednesday while an agreement was struck for Pochettino to potentially come in as his replacement.
According to Sky Sports, it is understood there are still details being finalised with Pochettino’s camp while talks are set to accelerate with the US Soccer Federation (USSF) over when the Argentine can be released from his contract.
The £7m release clause in Pochettino’s contract is not thought to be an issue for United. However, as things stand, Pochettino is due to take charge of the USA in games against Haiti on Saturday and Wednesday.
Once a solution can be found for those logistical hurdles, Pochettino is understood to be ready to take over if United ultimately decide to make a change at head coach, which remains likely.
US Soccer confirmed planned media access with players scheduled for Wednesday had been cancelled in observance of Veterans Day, which removed the possibility of Pochettino’s squad being asked to comment on the news of his potential exit.
While Carrick has been at the training ground in Manchester, United’s powerbrokers are set to make a final decision on his future at a Monaco summit on Wednesday.
CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox had already been due to meet minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to review the club’s start to the season.
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But with United in the relegation zone after their worst start to a league campaign for 40 years, Carrick’s future is increasingly in doubt and expected to be decided at the meeting.
Berrada and Wilcox have to make their recommendation to Ratcliffe, who has control of football operations at Old Trafford, before a final decision is made over Carrick.
Carrick was handed a stay of execution after United’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League last month, but momentum is now gathering behind a change in the dugout.
United have held talks over appointing Pochettino on three separate occasions prior to this and came close to appointing him a few times, including in 2022 when they hired Erik ten Hag instead.
Sir Alex Ferguson has long admired Pochettino and often had long conversations with the former Spurs boss following his matches against United.
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