Carrick sacked as Pochettino lines up Manchester United move

Manchester United sacked Michael Carrick as head coach on Thursday, ending his tenure just three months into the season with the club sitting 18th in the Premier League table.

The decision followed three days of speculation after Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, which turned out to be Carrick's last match in charge, according to Independent Sport.

Yahoo Sports reported that the final call was made on Wednesday after a summit in Monaco, where director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada met co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to agree the managerial change.

Despite the mounting reports of his departure, Carrick had continued to take training sessions at Carrington on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Yahoo Sports said.

Former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino, currently in charge of the United States men's national team, has emerged as the clear favourite to take over, with Independent Sport reporting a verbal agreement already in place between the Argentine and United.

Metro Football reported that Pochettino holds a $10 million (£7.44m) release clause in his contract with the US Soccer Federation, and that he has already reached terms with United over a move to Old Trafford.

Should the appointment go through, Pochettino would face an immediate examination of the toughest kind: United's next fixture is away to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday 22 November, a match Independent Sport described as arguably the most difficult possible starting point for any incoming manager.

United go into that game needing a result to avoid being dragged further into the relegation zone, having already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton in September, as noted by Metro Football.

The international break would typically hand a new head coach valuable time on the training pitch, but Independent Sport pointed out that Pochettino is unlikely to have that luxury given the late timing of any confirmation.

Gary Neville, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast before United's official announcement, branded the club's handling of Carrick's exit "classless", questioning why geographical logistics around a Monaco meeting should delay a decision that left a manager in limbo.

Neville went further in comments reported by Metro Football, urging Pochettino to reject the United job altogether unless the club's hierarchy commits to signing two defenders in the January transfer window.

The former United captain has long championed Pochettino for the role, though he argued any appointment now needs to come with binding guarantees on recruitment across the next two transfer windows rather than vague assurances.

Attention at Old Trafford turns to whether an appointment can be finalised in time for Pochettino, or whoever takes the job, to prepare the squad before the trip to Anfield on 22 November, with United's position just above the relegation zone adding urgency to the process.