Manchester United are closing in on a deal for Mauricio Pochettino to become their head coach if Michael Carrick is sacked, in line with a recommendation made to Sir Jim Ratcliffe by director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada.
Pochettino is head coach of the US men's national team but wants the United job if, as expected, Carrick is removed. Wilcox and Berrada are meeting Ratcliffe in Monaco, where the minority owner will be told that Carrick should lose his job. Ratcliffe controls United's sporting policy.
There is a growing sense among United's players that Carrick will be sacked, and they expect Pochettino to replace him. Pochettino has managed in the Premier League with Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea.
A United board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and one or more of the six Glazer siblings, who are the majority owners, will be represented. The club's executives and Carrick's camp expect the sacking to be ratified at the meeting, with an announcement to follow.
Pochettino's contract includes a release clause of about $10 million (£7.5 million). The compensation United would have to pay will be higher if the Argentine brings his own staff, including his longtime assistant Jesus Perez, who has worked with him for 16 years.
Pochettino is due to take charge of the United States in Concacaf Nations League matches against Haiti on Saturday in Miami and on Wednesday in Cincinnati. They will be the team's first competitive fixtures of the 2030 World Cup qualifying cycle.
Carrick, 45, has overseen a poor start to the season, with United 18th in the league and in the relegation zone. He has won only one league game, against Ipswich in August, and three in all competitions. United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton in September.
