Man United reach agreement in principle with Mauricio Pochettino to spark USA uncertainty

There is uncertainty over Mauricio Pochettino’s involvement with the United States in the international break, talkSPORT understands. Pochettino is due to oversee the USMNT’s CONCACAF National League quarter-final tie against Haiti , with the first leg scheduled for November 14 and the second on November 18. However, he has an agreement in principle with Manchester United to take over from Michael Carrick, who is set to be sacked. The total compensation to bring Pochettino and his staff from the USMNT set-up to Old Trafford is expected to be around $12million (£9m). With an agreement in the background, talkSPORT understands it is under discussion as to whether Pochettino takes charge of the USMNT against Haiti. Mauricio Pochettino’s journey as USMNT coach Pochettino was appointed to lead the Stars and Stripes in September 2024 on a two-year contract which ran through to the end of the 2026 World Cup. The 54-year-old’s contract reportedly netted him a salary of £4.5million, which was partly funded by investment companies and commercial partners. Despite the advantage of being a co-host, Pochettino took the US as far as the round of 16 at this year’s World Cup where they were beaten 4-1 by Belgium. The lead-up to the contest was overshadowed by Folarin Balogun having his suspension controversially overturned following an intervention from the White House after he was sent off in the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pochettino then agreed to a new deal that kept him as the USMNT boss through 2030 in August. But the proposition of returning to the Premier League and taking over United may prove to be an opportunity he cannot pass up. Should he not end up taking charge of the US in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Haiti, Pochettino would finish with a record of 22 wins, one draw and 12 defeats from his time in charge. Four of those wins have come after the World Cup, with the US defeating Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. What has Mauricio Pochettino previously said about a Premier League return? Pochettino had previously left the door open for a return to the English top flight in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT last November. “Maybe it’s possible, yes,” Pochettino said. “My challenge for the future is the World Cup and being now focused on the USA national team, maybe I come back one day to the Premier League.” Should he take the United job, it would mark his fourth Premier League role having previously taken charge of Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea. And if a deal is agreed in time, Pochettino’s first match as Red Devils boss following the international break would be a daunting trip to Liverpool on November 22.