Manchester United reach verbal agreement with Mauricio Pochettino to replace Michael Carrick

Manchester United have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday to replace Michael Carrick, amid a meeting in Monaco to decide Carrick’s future.

The move follows United’s worst start to a season in 40 years and an eight-match winless run that has left the club in the Premier League relegation zone, with a decision on Carrick expected after a meeting attended by influential shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox in Monaco on Wednesday.

Sky Sports reported that the club and Pochettino have “reached a verbal agreement in principle” for him to become United’s head coach; U.S. Soccer would be due compensation if he moves, with the 54-year-old understood to have a $10 million (£7.5 million) release clause, and Pochettino signed a contract extension three months ago to remain with the United States through to the 2030 World Cup.

Pochettino’s managerial CV cited in reports includes spells at Southampton, Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, and a U.S. Soccer media event scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled in observance of Veterans Day; he is due to hold a press conference on Friday ahead of a CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final with Haiti.

Harry Kane, speaking ahead of England’s UEFA Nations League match against Croatia, praised his former Tottenham boss: "I can't speak highly enough of him," said Kane. "We'll have to wait and see what happens but I know he's a great guy but also a fantastic manager."

Michael Carrick reported for duty at United’s Carrington training ground on Wednesday but his position appears precarious after a turbulent run of results that included a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth in late October, a 2-0 loss at Chelsea and a 3-2 Champions League win over Roma achieved after falling two goals down; he also oversaw a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa in which United twice trailed by two goals before scoring twice in stoppage-time.

After the Villa match Carrick said: "I'm pretty clear where we need to go and how we need to get there." The 45-year-old was given a permanent contract in the close-season after guiding United to a third-place finish during an earlier interim spell and had been credited with steadying the team following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January.

United’s slide to 18th place represents their lowest position 10 games into a top-flight season since 1986/87 when they were 20th; the campaign has been described in the report as hampered by underwhelming recruitment in the transfer window, disciplinary issues within the squad and continued failure to win a Premier League title since Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2012/13, with Carrick having dropped Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder criticised tactics during a 4-1 defeat at Como and axed Lisandro Martinez after Martinez criticised the club’s hierarchy for their lack of top-quality signings.

United have the remainder of the two-week international break to resolve their managerial situation before returning to action at Liverpool on November 22.