Manchester United are in the final stages of completing a deal to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their next head coach, following the dismissal of Michael Carrick on Thursday morning.
United made Pochettino their leading candidate after deciding earlier this week that they could no longer continue with Carrick in charge. A high-level meeting in Monaco on Wednesday finalised the next steps in the process.
Outline agreement and release clause
An outline agreement is now in place between United and Pochettino's camp, and the framework of a deal has also been agreed with US Soccer. Pochettino's contract includes a $10million (£7.4million) release clause.
Pochettino is expected to want to bring several members of his long-serving backroom team with him to Old Trafford. Deals for staff members including his No.2 Jesus Perez, assistant coach Miguel D'Agostino, goalkeeper coach Antonio Jimenez and Pochettino's son and sports scientist Sebastiano still need to be finalised.
International commitments complicate talks
The move to replace Carrick has been described as a "fast-moving" situation, but it has been complicated by the fact that the 54-year-old is due to take charge of the USA for their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti during the international break.
The tie will be played over two legs, with the first game taking place at 9.30pm UK time on Saturday and the second in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Part of the discussions with US Soccer are over whether Pochettino takes charge of those games, or is released from his contract to begin work at United immediately.
Clarity expected before press conference
Clarity on the situation could be delivered before Pochettino faces the media for the first time this week. He has been at the national training centre just outside Atlanta this week, planning for the first leg against Haiti, and is due to hold his pre-match press conference there at 9.15am local time (2.15pm UK time) on Friday.
