Manchester United have stepped up their pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino, making formal contact with U.S. Soccer as they look to appoint the USMNT head coach as their next manager, according to The Athletic.
The Athletic had earlier reported that United were finalising a deal for the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager in the event the club decided to move on from Michael Carrick. Sources briefed on the negotiations, who were not authorised to speak publicly, say United have now formalised contact with U.S. Soccer, who would require Pochettino's buyout to be paid to release him from his contract. That buyout is worth in the region of $10million (£7.4m), with the 54-year-old currently tied to the federation through the 2030 World Cup.
United discussed the financials of a proposed deal with Pochettino's representatives on Tuesday, and with chief executive Omar Berrada playing a leading role, the club is now looking to finalise an agreement with both the coach and the federation ahead of making him Carrick's successor.
Pochettino is currently with the USMNT ahead of two Concacaf Nations League games against Haiti over the next week. Sources say United are comfortable for him to remain in charge of the U.S. for those matches before making his return to English football.
Carrick was due to take training on Thursday, as he did on both Tuesday and Wednesday. But with club executives returning from meetings in Monaco, the expectation is they will now inform him face to face of the decision to dismiss him.
With United 18th in the Premier League, Pochettino quickly emerged as the leading candidate to replace Carrick after the club carried out work on potential replacements.
Pochettino is keen to work at Old Trafford and had been under consideration by United multiple times in the past, including in 2022, when he was interviewed towards the end of Ralf Rangnick's interim tenure, though the club eventually appointed Erik ten Hag instead.
A move to United would mark a return to club management for Pochettino, who has held the U.S. role since September 2024. He led the co-hosts at this summer's World Cup on home soil, where they reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by Belgium.
