Mauricio Pochettino has been told to secure transfer guarantees before accepting the Manchester United job, with the club close to finalising his appointment after sacking Michael Carrick on Thursday morning.
Pochettino's employers at US Soccer are understood to accept that he will leave after their two Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday and next Tuesday, with United having to pay a release clause of around £7.5million.
The Argentine will inherit a squad in crisis following a miserable start to the season, which has left United in the relegation zone. His first priority will be to secure safety, with quality new signings essential when the transfer window reopens in January.
Speaking on The Overlap, Gary Neville said it's essential that Pochettino demands at least two new defensive signings in the window on top of the usual contract terms such as length and compensation. He said: "If I was Mauricio Pochettino now, I would be literally protecting myself up to the high heaven."
Neville added: "He'll do that with a pay-off, so do that in your contract. But secondly, he needs two defenders in January. He's got to insist that he gets two defenders in January. He's got to insist that he gets a minimum budget next summer. He's got to insist that he gets a budget that follows. They have to give it to him or else he shouldn't take the job."
Nathan Collins
Brentford signed Nathan Collins for a club-record £23m. Across his first three seasons at the Gtech, the centre-back has become an indispensable part of the Bees' defence, racking up more than 100 appearances and becoming captain in 2025.
Collins came through the EFL with Stoke before moving to Burnley and then Wolves in the Premier League. Brentford would demand a big fee for the 25-year-old Irishman, probably more than £50m, but this could be the right time for him to move to a club of United's stature.
Antonee Robinson
Antonee Robinson is also seen as a potential target for the left-back position. Known for stamina, speed and defensive recovery, he ranks among the Premier League's top full-backs in tackles and interceptions and rarely misses games through injury.
He would need no introduction to Pochettino, having worked together with the US national team. Robinson has previously praised the former Tottenham boss as a "top-class manager" and said he felt lucky to have worked with him.
At 29 and having joined Fulham for just £2m in 2020, United may not need to break the bank to sign him.
