Mauricio Pochettino is interested in becoming Manchester United manager if Michael Carrick is sacked, according to reports. United’s hierarchy are considering Carrick’s position following the team’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The result has left United 18th in the Premier League with just one win in 10 league games.
Potential replacements considered
United have already explored alternatives to Carrick with Villa manager Unai Emery, the former Bayern Munich and Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte, and Eddie Howe, who left Newcastle United in the summer, all in the frame.
However, Pochettino has now emerged as a serious candidate to replace Carrick before United’s next Premier League game away to Liverpool on November 22.
Pochettino's contract and release clause
Pochettino has remained the head coach of the United States national team after the World Cup in the summer and his contract takes him through until after the 2030 World Cup. However, BBC Sport reports that Pochettino would be interested in taking the United job if Carrick departs Old Trafford.
In his contract with the United States national team, Pochettino has a release clause in the region of $10 million (£7.4m). United would need to pay an additional fee to release Pochettino’s coaching staff, including his assistant, Jesus Perez, who has worked with the Argentine at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Previous links to United
Pochettino has previously been on United’s radar and was in contention to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer five years ago, as well as Jose Mourinho in 2018. Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have endorsed Pochettino to United’s hierarchy on several occasions since his retirement in 2013.
