Manchester United are close to appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager, although a number of players in the squad had hoped to see Unai Emery hired from Aston Villa instead.
The club's poor start to the season has left them in the relegation zone, their lowest position at this stage of a campaign in forty years. Michael Carrick is expected to pay the price as United's senior figures meet in Monaco.
Pochettino Emerges as Frontrunner
Pochettino has become the leading candidate to replace Carrick, and the Premier League club have reached an agreement to release him from his contract with the USA, which he recently signed. That would allow him to take charge at Old Trafford.
While that news has become public, talkSPORT reports that a host of players at Old Trafford were keen to see Emery arrive. He was among several names linked with the job, and his work at Aston Villa has put him on the radar of every major club.
Emery's Old Trafford Frustration
Emery was left frustrated on Sunday during his visit to Old Trafford. His Villa side twice let a two-goal lead slip to draw 4-4, and Emery walked down the touchline before the final whistle after Villa conceded for the fourth time.
During his time at Villa, Emery has strengthened his reputation, with many viewing him and Arsenal's Mikel Arteta as the two outstanding managers in the Premier League. He has twice secured Champions League football with Villa and delivered another Europa League crown last season.
Pochettino's Premier League Record
Pochettino's last job in England was at Chelsea, where he lasted just one year, leading them to sixth before being moved on. It was at Tottenham that he established himself as one of the best young managers on the planet, guiding the club to third and then second in successive seasons.
That success in north London saw him linked with the United job, most notably in 2018 when he was seen as the man who should have replaced Jose Mourinho. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's stellar interim spell, which included a win at Tottenham, saw him land the role instead.
