Manchester United may have to pay more than £10 million to dismiss head coach Michael Carrick and bring in Mauricio Pochettino as his replacement. The club has made a poor start to the season, sitting 18th in the Premier League with eight points from their opening ten matches.
Carrick's Contract and Severance
Carrick, 45, signed a permanent deal this summer and is contracted until 2028. According to GiveMeSport, although his contract includes a one-year break clause, United would still need to pay the remainder of the year's salary to part ways with him. With Carrick reportedly earning around £5 million annually, and being only months into his contract, that payment is estimated at roughly £3 million.
Fans widely expect the club to make a change during the November international break, giving time to find a replacement before the Premier League resumes on Sunday, November 22, when United travel to Anfield to face Liverpool.
Pochettino Compensation
Several names have been linked with the Old Trafford role, including Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, but Pochettino is considered the frontrunner. However, United would also have to pay compensation to the Argentine's current employers, the United States national team, where he is under contract until at least 2030. Reports suggest Pochettino has a $10 million (£7.4 million) release clause in that deal.
Combined with the £3 million due to Carrick, United could spend over £10 million to swap the two managers this month, with the figure potentially rising if support staff are included.
History of Manager Payoffs
The club has a record of costly managerial departures. David Moyes reportedly received around £5.2 million when he was let go in 2014, Louis van Gaal was paid out £8.4 million in 2016, and Jose Mourinho took home £19.6 million for his sacking in 2018. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received £10 million in severance in 2021, Ralf Rangnick was afforded around £15 million, Erik ten Hag saw £10.4 million, and the club spent £8.2 million to dismiss Ruben Amorim in January.
Sky Sports reports that club officials fear a change in the dugout may not be enough to reverse the team's fortunes, with concerns that problems run deeper than the dressing room. Whether the club will give Carrick more time remains to be seen, but his time in the post appears limited.
