Manchester United appear to have changed their stance on Mauricio Pochettino, who looks set to succeed Michael Carrick as manager. Carrick is widely expected to lose his job after overseeing United's worst start to a season in four decades.
His future will be decided at a crunch meeting in Monaco between Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada and Sir Jim Ratcliffe on Wednesday. If the 45-year-old is relieved of his duties, United could be in a position to appoint Pochettino very quickly after reaching a breakthrough in talks.
Deal 'tantalisingly close'
It has been reported that a deal is tantalisingly close, with the United States head coach eager to be installed at Old Trafford. While the Red Devils are yet to make contact with US Soccer, who would be owed around £7 million in compensation, the plan is described as "straightforward".
A move for Pochettino has been in the making for several years and follows a number of close calls, with the 54-year-old having been interviewed on two previous occasions. He was a serious contender for the United job before they decided to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019, and again when Erik ten Hag was handed the reins in 2022.
Previous interviews and Glazer stance
It has been reported by The Athletic that Pochettino came across as somewhat underwhelming, particularly when it came to his work rate and hunger to succeed. However, other reports have indicated that the Glazer family, the club's majority shareholders, are determined not to "make the same mistake" by overlooking Pochettino for a third time.
As a result, it seems increasingly likely that he will finally get his chance to manage United if Carrick is given his marching orders.
Pochettino's record and task ahead
Pochettino has won 21 of his 35 matches in charge of the USMNT and led them into the World Cup knockout stages earlier this year. They were eventually defeated by Belgium in the round of 16. He already boasts a wealth of Premier League experience, having managed Southampton, Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain before moving into international football.
If the Argentine head coach ends up moving to United, he would be tasked with saving the club from a relegation battle and reaching the knockout phase of the Champions League. The Red Devils currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, having secured just one victory in their 10 matches since Carrick was appointed on a permanent basis in the summer.
