Man Utd 'expected' to sack Michael Carrick as new favourite emerges to replace him

Manchester United are 'expected' to part company with head coach Michael Carrick during the international break, it has been reported.

Carrick's future has been the subject of growing scrutiny for a number of weeks, with United sat in the Premier League relegation zone with eight points from their opening 10 matches. They drew 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Carrick told reporters after the game that he would 'expect' to continue in his role beyond the international break but the club's stance now appears to have changed.

Michael Carrick's Man Utd future now in serious doubt

The Athletic's David Ornstein reports that United are now 'expected' to sack Carrick following discussions among the club's hierarchy, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are said to be leading contenders to take over at Old Trafford and both have been extensively linked with the head coach role over recent weeks.

But as per Oddschecker, United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino is now the favourite to take over, having climbed above both Howe and Nagelsmann in the odds over recent hours.

It was reported by talkSPORT earlier on Monday that Pochettino would be interested in moving back to club football with United if the job was offered to him. The Argentine's name has never been far from the front of speculation when it has come to replacing numerous United managers over recent years.

Mauricio Pochettino is the new favourite to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United head coach (Image: Getty)

Pochettino was appointed as the USMNT coach in 2024, with a brief to deliver success at the 2026 World Cup that the nation was co-hosting. USA made it to the last 16 stage before losing 4-1 to Belgium in Seattle.

There was surprise in some quarters that, in August, he elected to sign a contract extension to keep him as USWNT head coach until the 2030 World Cup. But it appears that agreement would do little to stop him moving back to the Premier League if the job is offered - and, of course, if he wants to accept it.

More to follow...