Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal with Mauricio Pochettino to become head coach if they decide to sack Michael Carrick, according to Sky Sports.
The report comes as chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox prepare to discuss Carrick’s future with Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco. BBC Sport says the pair are expected to recommend his dismissal. No final decision or appointment is confirmed in the reports checked.
Pochettino talks reported to be advanced
Sky Sports reported on Wednesday morning that talks with the USA head coach were advanced. It understands United would need to pay around £7m to buy him out of his recently signed USA contract, with that sum not thought to be an issue for the club.
Sky also reports that Pochettino is understood to be ready if United choose to make a change. That remains conditional: being close to a deal does not mean an agreement has been completed, Carrick has been dismissed or a successor has been appointed.
Why United’s executives are meeting in Monaco
BBC Sport’s report, by Dan Roan, Sami Mokbel and Simon Stone, says the meeting was already in the diary as a regular discussion of United’s strategy. Ratcliffe lives in Monaco and Ineos has offices there.
In a separate Wednesday explainer, the BBC says the location was not chosen because of the debate about Carrick. His future has instead become the main item on the agenda. Berrada and Wilcox would prefer to communicate any decision to him face to face.
Carrick arrived at Carrington on Wednesday morning, according to Sky. His presence at United’s training ground is separate from the executives’ meeting in Monaco.
Coaching support remains another reported option
The BBC also reports that strengthening Carrick’s coaching team remains an option under consideration, rather than replacing him. Bayern Munich coach Aaron Danks, who previously worked with Carrick at Middlesbrough, is named as one possibility. That does not establish an approach to Danks, an agreement with Bayern or a decision to keep Carrick.
United are 18th after winning one of their opening 10 Premier League games, according to the BBC. Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa required two comebacks from two goals down, following the 3-2 Champions League recovery against Roma and a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea.
The BBC says the Glazer family would need to sign off any decision on Carrick. For now, the reports describe preparations for a possible change, with Pochettino still the USA head coach and Carrick’s future awaiting a confirmed outcome.
The latest reports follow earlier scrutiny of Carrick’s position, but go further by describing contact with Pochettino.
No verified relevant YouTube or X embed was found for this update. The linked BBC report and Sky Sports video page provide the source coverage.
What should United prioritise in their head coach decision?
Archive: Mauricio Pochettino during USA v Australia on 19 June 2026. Photo: Bryan Berlin / WikiPortraits, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and corner branding added. The adapted photograph is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
For football fanwear, visit the Football News UK Store.
