Transfers
Man United slammed over Michael Carrick’s treatment as Pochettino nears
In the shadow of Old Trafford, former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel accused Manchester United of disrespectful treatment of Michael Carrick as speculation about Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment swirled. He said plans are already in place to bring the Argentinian manager in if Carrick is removed from his post.
Pochettino’s potential move
Pochettino, who is currently coaching the United States national side, is believed to be open to taking over at Old Trafford. Schmeichel argued that the club’s problems lie above Carrick and that the head coach should be allowed to sign players in the January transfer window. “I absolutely do feel sympathy for him. I think the way this is playing out is very disrespectful to him,” Schmeichel told The Overlap Daily. He added that the club needed defenders and had gone through a whole transfer window without signing a single one.
Schmeichel expressed that he felt a lot of sympathy for Michael Carrick and urged the club to steady the ship and sign players in January. Pochettino earned acclaim during his tenure at Tottenham, taking them to the 2019 Champions League final. Former striker Harry Kane praised Pochettino, saying he had a fantastic relationship and that the coach had a big impact on his career.
United open managerial talks
Manchester United have opened talks with United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino about replacing Michael Carrick, who is expected to lose his job this week. Carrick’s future will be decided at a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday attended by chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and co‑owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. United have previously spoken to the former Argentina defender about the managerial position on three occasions – after Jose Mourinho’s dismissal in 2018, before Erik ten Hag’s appointment in 2022 and after the Dutchman’s sacking in 2024.
Pochettino renewed his contract with the United States in August and the team face a two‑legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter‑final against Haiti next week. The 54‑year‑old manager has a $10m (£7.5m) release clause. Berrada and Wilcox have flown to Monaco for a regular, planned meeting to discuss United’s strategy, with the main issue being Carrick’s future.
Growing expectation Pochettino will take charge of Man Utd against Liverpool
It is expected that their recommendation will be for the head coach to go. United are 18th in the Premier League, inside the relegation zone, after winning just one of their first ten games and none since August. This is the club’s lowest position at this stage of a top‑flight season since 1986‑87, when they were 20th.
Potential squad overhaul
Pochettino’s first Premier League job was at Southampton in January 2013, followed by a five‑year spell at Tottenham from 2014 that included a Champions League final appearance. He later managed Paris Saint‑Germain from January 2021 to July 2022 and spent the 2023‑24 season in charge of Chelsea. Pochettino moved into international football by taking the United States job in September 2024 and led the co‑hosts to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
As many as eleven players could leave Manchester United in 2027, according to a report, as co‑owners INEOS plan to sack Carrick and hire Pochettino. The Athletic report, READ by many, said United are making strong progress on personal terms with Pochettino. United will need to contact the United States and pay Pochettino’s release clause of £7.5million.
Carrick is still conducting training at Carrington but is expected to be dismissed imminently. United are currently third from bottom in the Premier League table. The Red Devils were knocked out of the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.
In the Champions League, United have won two of their four games. After the international break, United will travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League. Journalist Dean Jones reported that Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Manuel Ugarte are among the players who could be offloaded in 2027.
He added that Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes are in the final year of contracts due to expire in 2027, while Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Mason Mount and Noussair Mazraoui are contracted until 2028. Further discussions will be needed around Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte. Sources indicated a substantial turnover of players is realistic as United look to reshape the squad and create room for new arrivals. The club is determined to become better at moving on underperforming players and those who do not fit the planned evolution, a point highlighted in the READ: link to Michael Carrick’s reaction to the sack claims.