Mauricio Pochettino would be open to the prospect of returning to the Premier League with Manchester United, sources have told ESPN, despite only recently signing a new long-term contract as the United States men's national team head coach.
United manager Michael Carrick is facing the sack at Old Trafford after overseeing the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with just one win in 10 games leaving the 20-time English champions in the relegation zone.
And although Carrick took training as usual on Tuesday, sources have said that the United hierarchy are now preparing to dismiss the 45-year-old with Pochettino the favoured candidate to replace for the former United and England midfielder.
Pochettino is under contract with U.S. Soccer until 2030 after committing to a four-year extension in August following the USMNT's run to the World Cup round of 16 this summer.
But sources have said that an escape clause in the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager's new deal enables him to speak to a major European club if they are prepared to trigger the 54-year-old's $10 million release fee.
Pochettino is due to take charge of the U.S.' Concacaf Nations League double header against Haiti in the international break, with the first leg of the quarterfinal playoff scheduled for Saturday in Miami.
With Carrick still in post, it is unclear whether United will make a formal move for Pochettino before the Haiti fixtures, but sources have said that the Argentine would be interested in a move to United.
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Pochettino, who still has a family home in London, has been in the running for the United job on three previous occasions -- in 2016, 2019 and 2024 -- before missing out to José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag respectively.
But despite United's decision to look elsewhere on each occasion, the pull of the Premier League's biggest team and the prospect of a return to the European club game would appeal to Pochettino.
