Manchester United have decided to dismiss Michael Carrick, with Mauricio Pochettino the frontrunner to take over at Old Trafford. Reports emerged on Monday evening that a decision has been made to part with the under-pressure boss, with the club sitting in the Premier League relegation zone.
Work is set to begin at the club's Carrington training ground to appoint a new manager, while many of the squad fly out for international duty with their respective nations. Former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Pochettino is the favourite for the role.
Pochettino's USA contract clause
Pochettino has not been involved in club management since leaving Chelsea by mutual consent two and a half years ago. The Argentine spent just one year in west London before being lured by the USA national team to guide them into their home World Cup, where they were knocked out at the last-16 stage.
Pochettino was heavily linked with a return to Tottenham before the World Cup and was widely expected to leave the USMNT setup after the tournament. However, in August, he signed a new contract to guide the national team into the 2030 World Cup.
Buyout clause and move to Premier League
With Manchester United now set to come calling, Pochettino is ready to head back to the Premier League. BBC Sport report that Pochettino is open to the Old Trafford job, and United will have to pay to appoint him.
According to The Athletic, there is a buyout clause in Pochettino's contract worth $10million (£7.44m) which United can trigger to bring him back to England. However, the clause does not cover Pochettino's coaching staff, many of whom, such as assistant Jesus Perez, have been with him for most of his career.
International break schedule
Given it is the international break, Pochettino is currently with his USMNT squad at the team's training centre in North Carolina, ahead of two Concacaf Nations League quarter-final matches against Haiti on Saturday and next Tuesday. Pochettino is scheduled to speak to reporters on Friday at his traditional pre-match press conference.
