Mauricio Pochettino has been advised to secure transfer guarantees before accepting the Manchester United job, with the club close to finalising a deal to appoint the United States boss after sacking Michael Carrick on Thursday morning.
Pochettino's employers at US Soccer are understood to accept that he will leave after their two Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and next Tuesday, with United having to pay a release clause of around £7.5million.
Defensive Reinforcements Essential
The Argentine will inherit a squad in crisis following a miserable start to the season, which has left United in the relegation zone. His first priority will be to secure safety, with quality new signings essential when the transfer window reopens in January.
In addition to the usual contract terms, such as length and compensation, Gary Neville says it's essential that Pochettino demands at least two new defensive signings in the window. Speaking on The Overlap, he said: "If I was Mauricio Pochettino now, I would be literally protecting myself up to the high heaven."
"He'll do that with a pay-off, so do that in your contract. But secondly, he needs two defenders in January. He's got to insist that he gets two defenders in January. He's got to insist that he gets a minimum budget next summer. He's got to insist that he gets a budget that follows. They have to give it to him or else he shouldn’t take the job."
Two Potential Targets
Nathan Collins has been a big part of Brentford's recent success. Brentford signed Collins for a club-record £23m. Across his first three seasons at the Gtech, the giant defender has become an indispensable part of the Bees' defence, racking up more than 100 appearances and becoming captain in 2025.
For a young man, he has played a lot of football, cutting his teeth in the EFL with Stoke before moving to Burnley and Wolves, then of the Premier League. Brentford would demand a big fee for the 25-year-old Irishman, probably more than £50m, but this could be the right time for him to move to a club of United's stature.
Antonee Robinson has thrived under Mauricio Pochettino in the US national team. United are crying out for a quality left-back, and Robinson could be that man. Known for stamina, speed and defensive recovery, he ranks among the Premier League's top full-backs in tackles and interceptions. Crucially, he rarely misses games through injury.
He would need no introduction to Pochettino, having worked together in the US national team. Robinson has previously praised the former Tottenham boss as a "top-class manager" and said he felt lucky to have worked with him. At 29 and having joined Fulham for just £2m in 2020, United may not need to break the bank to sign him.
