📅 November 11, 2026
Manchester United Open Talks With Pochettino as Carrick Awaits Monaco Verdict
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Manchester United have opened talks with Mauricio Pochettino about replacing Michael Carrick, and the USA head coach is ready to take the job if it’s offered. BBC Sport and Sky Sports News both reported it on Wednesday morning, hours before the Monaco meeting that’s expected to decide Carrick’s future.
Carrick hasn’t been sacked. There’s no club statement yet, and he was at Carrington on Wednesday morning, according to both outlets. But the talk has moved on from who’s favourite to who’s negotiating.
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What’s been reported
BBC Sport says United have opened talks with Pochettino and that, once Carrick’s future is settled, he wants the job. It also says he wants to stay respectful to US Soccer and will wait for United to make an official approach before anything moves. Sky Sports News puts it slightly further along: talks are “advanced”, United are close to agreeing a deal if they make a change, and Pochettino is “understood to be ready.”
Neither outlet says a deal is done. Both say the same thing about the sequence: United decide on Carrick first, then go for his replacement. The BBC’s report says Carrick is expected to be relieved of his duties within the next 48 hours, though that’s the BBC’s line and the club hasn’t said anything.
To get him, United would have to pay to release him from the contract he signed with US Soccer this year. The BBC and Sky put different figures on that release clause, so we’re leaving the number out. Sky says the cost isn’t thought to be a problem for the club.
The Monaco meeting
Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are meeting Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday, as we covered on Tuesday. The BBC says the expected recommendation from Berrada and Wilcox is for Carrick to go, and Sky says Ratcliffe makes the final call after hearing it. EFE, carried by beIN Sports, reported the same direction of travel on Tuesday.
The awkward part is timing for Pochettino. The USA play Haiti in the Concacaf Nations League this week, and Sky says he’s set to take charge of that game as things stand. If United move during the camp, he either leaves mid-international window or starts at Carrington late.
Why Pochettino, and why now
This isn’t a new interest. Both the BBC and Sky say United have spoken to him about the job before, more than once, going back to his Tottenham years. What’s changed is the league position: United are 18th with one win from ten league games, the BBC notes, and they’re at Anfield on Sunday 22 November after the break.
On Monday he was the favourite in our report on the shortlist, alongside Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann. Two days later, the BBC and Sky are no longer describing a shortlist. They’re describing a negotiation with one man.
Our view
If the decision’s been made, make it today. Talking to Pochettino while Carrick takes training isn’t unusual in football, but it isn’t kind either, and Carrick deserves to hear it from the club before he reads it anywhere else. A new coach also needs every day of this break before Anfield.
We’ll post again when United confirm anything about Carrick or his successor.
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Sources: BBC Sport (11 Nov, published 08:46 GMT, updated 10:34 GMT) for the opened talks, Pochettino wanting the job and waiting for an official approach, the “next 48 hours” line, the recommendation, previous talks and the league position. Sky Sports News (11 Nov, 09:45 GMT, updated 12:06 GMT) for “advanced” talks, “close to agreeing a deal”, Pochettino “understood to be ready”, the cost not being an issue, Carrick at Carrington, Ratcliffe’s final call, the Haiti game and previous talks. EFE via beIN Sports (10 Nov) for the reported push to dismiss Carrick. Left out: the release-clause figure (BBC and Sky give different amounts), the number of previous approaches (BBC and Sky differ), a reported Times line on personal terms (we haven’t read it), and anything about the outcome of the Monaco meeting, which hadn’t been announced when we published.