Manchester United are close to finalising a deal to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as Michael Carrick's successor, with the club's future head coach expected to be decided at a meeting in Monaco.
The Red Devils are in the relegation zone after Sunday's chaotic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, which is expected to be Carrick's final game in charge despite an injury-time comeback earning an unlikely point. Carrick attended United's training ground on Wednesday morning, but his fate is set to be determined at a meeting 800 miles away, where co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will confer with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.
Pochettino identified as preferred candidate
According to The Athletic, United's key decision makers held talks on Tuesday and settled on Pochettino as the candidate best qualified to lead the club out of its current predicament. The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager signed a contract with US Soccer through to 2030 just three months ago and is currently preparing the American national side for CONCACAF Nations League matches against Haiti in the November international break.
The former Argentina international has held talks with United in the past and is keen on the job this time, but hefty compensation would be due to US Soccer. United are understood to have been in contact with Pochettino's representatives, and although personal terms are unlikely to be an issue, the 54-year-old's exit clause of £7.4 million would need to be paid in full.
Other candidates considered
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is admired, while ex-Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann were linked a fortnight ago when United seriously considered replacing Carrick. A 4-1 Champions League loss at Como and a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth left the head coach's job hanging by a thread, but the club decided to give him the opportunity to turn the situation around.
Carrick's side subsequently lost 2-0 at Chelsea, where they were unable to take their chances and saw Lisandro Martinez sent off, before last Tuesday's thrilling 3-2 Champions League comeback win against Roma. A scarcely believable 4-4 draw against Aston Villa followed on Sunday, after which the head coach stressed he would not walk away.
Carrick remains focused
'It's been a right mixed week or two or three, really, if you're looking at the events,' Carrick said. 'But I'm pretty clear where we need to go and how we need to get there. Obviously some of the boys will be flying off around the world and different things, and the group will be split for 10 days or so. But as a normal international week is, you know, we'll have some training. We'll have one or two days off, but not too much. But we'll train, and we'll get ready for the next game.'
United return to action with a Premier League trip to rivals Liverpool on November 22.
