Pochettino's 'Buyout Clause' Revealed: How It Stacks Up Against Man Utd's Other Managerial Targets

It would reportedly cost more than $10 million for Manchester United to pry a willing Mauricio Pochettino away from his U.S. men's national team contract, yet the in-demand Argentine is far from the priciest option on the club's list of candidates.

If Manchester United opt to dismiss Michael Carrick when co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe meets CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox in Monaco later this week, it is vital that the club makes the right call on their next managerial hire.

Since Ole Gunnar Solskjær's tenure unraveled early in 2021–22—following third and second-place Premier League finishes, along with four semifinals and a final—United have repeatedly struggled in this regard. It frequently comes at a steep financial price, which sits uncomfortably alongside the broader cost-cutting measures implemented elsewhere.

Erik ten Hag ultimately claimed two trophies—the Carabao Cup in 2022–23 and the FA Cup in 2023–24—placing the Dutchman among just six managers in the club's storied history to achieve that feat.

Despite those successes, United explored replacing Ten Hag in the summer of 2024, before opting to retain him, extending his contract only to sack him four months later at a cost of £14.5 million ($19.5 million at today's rate). It then cost £11 million ($14.8 million) to release Ruben Amorim from his Sporting CP contract as his successor, and a further £16 million ($21.5 million) to dismiss him after just 14 months.

Former United captain Carrick was without a club when he returned to Old Trafford as interim manager last January, meaning his appointment cost the club nothing. Reportedly on a lower salary than his two immediate predecessors, any severance payment would also be smaller. Should he be relieved of his duties, the exact figure will be confirmed when United's 2026–27 accounts are released toward the end of next year.

How Much It Would Cost Man Utd to Hire Mauricio Pochettino

Releasing a new manager from an existing contract with another employer will always come at a price. Mauricio Pochettino has surfaced as a candidate, having been on Manchester United's radar for roughly a decade, but he remains under contract with U.S. Soccer.

The Argentine only penned that agreement in August, following the conclusion of his previous terms at the end of the 2026 World Cup. It has afforded him greater influence over the long-term growth of soccer in the United States, but there is a pre-agreed buyout clause that Manchester United may not view as prohibitive given his experience and standing in the game.

The Athletic reports the figure is set at $10 million, though that would rise by "millions more dollars" to also bring along Pochettino's trusted backroom staff.

Comparing the Cost With Alternative Managers

The fee for Pochettino—excluding his staff—is less than half of what it has reportedly been suggested it could cost to lure Unai Emery away from Aston Villa. Even factoring in Pochettino's staff, it would still represent only a fraction of that sum.

The highly regarded Spaniard is close to agreeing a new deal at Villa Park, following a recent meeting to map out long-term plans beyond his current contract, which runs until 2029. There is no fixed release clause for Emery, and The Telegraph has reported that Aston Villa would demand £20 million ($26.9 million) to sanction his departure.

Given that Emery is said to be content at Villa, a move may be a non-starter from the outset.

Appointing someone without a club should eliminate, or at the very least significantly reduce, any compensation costs. Eddie Howe is another name linked with the vacancy at Old Trafford. The 48-year-old Englishman has been out of management since departing Newcastle United in July, though the terms of his exit included a compensation sum payable to the Magpies should he quickly take up a role at another club or national team.

Those payments have already been decreasing, having started at £6 million in the summer and estimated by BBC Sport to be around £3 million ($4 million) by the end of October. The compensation window is expected to expire entirely before the current season concludes.

Potential Compensation Cost to Man Utd Hiring Leading Candidates

The fee for Howe is relatively modest and continuing to shrink, but Manchester United would owe nothing in compensation should they reach an agreement with either Julian Nagelsmann or Antonio Conte, both of whom have been without a club since the summer.

Nagelsmann is not yet 40 but already boasts a decade of managerial experience. Bayern Munich paid a world-record compensation fee in 2021, estimated at around $30 million at the time, to bring the German in from RB Leipzig. However, his resignation following Germany's surprise exit from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 32 means he is now available at no cost.

Conte finds himself in a comparable position. The Italian, who has won six league titles as a manager across Italy and England, departed Napoli in May and has yet to return to the dugout.

Sir Gareth Southgate, the candidate championed by former sporting director Dan Ashworth to succeed Ten Hag in 2024, would also come at zero cost. The former England manager has not worked in club football since 2009.