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U.K , November 11, 2026 - Manchester United and Mauricio Pochettino have reached a verbal agreement in principle for the Argentine to become the club’s next head coach. The development emerged on Wednesday as the hierarchy prepares to end Michael Carrick’s short tenure after a start that has left the 20-time English champions in the Premier League relegation zone.
Discussions between United executives and Pochettino’s representatives intensified this week. By Wednesday, personal terms were largely settled, according to sources familiar with the talks reported by BBC Sport and Sky Sports.
Pochettino remains under contract with the United States men’s national team until 2030 after extending his deal in August. United would need to trigger a release clause understood to be worth about $10 million, or roughly £7.5 million, plus further compensation for members of his staff. The combined figure is expected to approach $12 million.
Carrick reported for training at Carrington on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox travelled to Monaco to meet co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. A final decision on Carrick’s future is expected within the next 48 hours.
United have managed only one Premier League win in their first 10 matches under Carrick. That record has left them 18th in the table and without a league victory for several weeks. Across all competitions the results have been equally poor.
The club’s leadership concluded that continuing with Carrick was no longer sustainable. Pochettino has long attracted interest at Old Trafford. United held exploratory talks with him on three earlier occasions, most recently after Erik ten Hag’s departure in 2024.
Sources told BBC Sport that Pochettino is ready to accept the role once Carrick’s exit is confirmed and a formal approach is made to US Soccer. The Argentine has previously expressed a desire to return to club management in the Premier League.
The verbal agreement on personal terms stands, yet several practical steps remain. United have not yet contacted US Soccer. Talks continue over whether Pochettino will take charge of the United States’ two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti on November 14 and 18.
Berrada and Wilcox are not expected to return from Monaco until later on Wednesday. Any public announcement regarding Carrick could therefore slip to Thursday. United’s next Premier League fixture is away to Liverpool on November 22, immediately after the international break.
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Three developments will clarify the situation in the coming days. The first is Carrick’s formal dismissal. The second is the triggering of Pochettino’s release clause and any response from US Soccer. The third is a decision on the Haiti fixtures.
If Pochettino leaves before or during those matches, the United States will need an interim arrangement. For United, the appointment would place immediate pressure on the new coach to stabilise a side currently fighting relegation. The cost of the move appears acceptable to the club’s ownership.
Pochettino is expected to bring trusted assistants, including long-time collaborator Jesús Pérez. His preference for high-intensity, organised football is well documented from spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Carrick was appointed permanent head coach earlier this year after a successful interim spell following Ruben Amorim’s departure. His permanent tenure has lasted less than six months.
Pochettino took charge of the United States in September 2024. He guided the co-hosts to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup before agreeing the contract extension that runs through the 2030 tournament. The release clause has made an earlier departure possible.
United have changed managers frequently since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Pochettino would become the latest high-profile appointment under the current ownership structure led by the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group.
The story matters because Manchester United remain one of world football’s most followed clubs, and their current position raises genuine questions about a possible relegation battle for the first time in decades. Readers should watch for official confirmation of Carrick’s departure, a formal statement from United and US Soccer on the compensation package, and clarity on whether Pochettino will remain with the United States for the Haiti ties. Those decisions will determine how quickly the new coach can begin work at Carrington.