Sources say Pochettino is open to managing Manchester United.

According to ESPN, Manchester United's management is preparing to sack current manager Michael Carrick, with current US men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino emerging as the leading candidate to succeed him.

Despite having just renewed his contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation, sources indicate that Pochettino is open to returning to the Premier League to take over as manager of Manchester United.

Manchester United have had an extremely dismal start to the season, managing only one win in their first 10 league matches and plunging into the Premier League relegation zone, marking their worst start in the Premier League era. Although Carrick led the team in training as usual on Tuesday, the dire league situation has led the Manchester United management to decide to change managers.

After leading the U.S. national team to the round of 16 at the World Cup this summer, the 54-year-old Pochettino signed a four-year contract in August that runs until 2030.

However, sources indicate that Pochettino retained a special release clause in the contract extension agreement: any top European club willing to pay a $10 million release fee will be eligible to negotiate with him.

Pochettino still maintains a family home in London and previously missed out on the Manchester United managerial position three times in 2016, 2019, and 2024. Although he is about to lead the US national team in a crucial CONCACAF Nations League match against Haiti, it is unclear whether Manchester United will formally contact him before the match. However, the allure of returning to European club football and managing a top Premier League club could still be very tempting for him.

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