Man Utd Close In On Pochettino As Carrick's Future Hangs In The Balance

Manchester United are reportedly "closing in" on a contract with Mauricio Pochettino even before making a formal decision to dismiss current manager Michael Carrick, with multiple steps remaining in both proceedings.

After United dropped into the Premier League relegation zone this far into a campaign for the first time in four decades, questions over Carrick's long-term future were inevitable—despite the manager himself insisting things would continue as normal.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox, the widely criticized duo who had so enthusiastically celebrated United's last-gasp equalizer against Aston Villa on Sunday, reportedly reached the conclusion that a managerial change was needed. True to the club's characteristically complicated lines of communication, Berrada and Wilcox traveled to Monaco to present their case to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

While the situation surrounding Carrick's position continues to develop, United have identified Pochettino as their preferred successor, according to The Athletic. Names such as Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, and Antonio Conte had all been mentioned as candidates, but it is the current U.S. men's national team head coach who is in advanced talks with the Red Devils.