Manchester United could spend more than £10.5 million (approximately KSh1.8 billion) to secure the services of Argentine tactician Mauricio Pochettino as their next head coach, with the club reportedly moving closer to an agreement with the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager.
According to reports by Sky Sports and The Athletic, United have identified the 54-year-old as their preferred candidate to replace Michael Carrick, whose position has become increasingly uncertain following the club’s disappointing start to the 2026/27 campaign.
Sky Sports reports that United would need to pay approximately £7 million to buy Pochettino out of his contract with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
The Argentine recently extended his contract with the United States national team, committing his future to the programme until 2030.
However, the financial demands do not end with the manager’s release clause.
According to TEAMtalk, the overall compensation package could exceed £10.5 million, with the costs broken down as follows:
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Pochettino’s release clause | £7.5 million |
| Compensation for four backroom staff | £3 million |
| Total | Over £10.5 million |
The additional £3 million would reportedly facilitate the departure of four members of Pochettino’s trusted technical team, whom he wants to bring to Old Trafford.
The group includes long-serving assistant coach Jesús Pérez, Miguel D’Agostino, goalkeeping coach Toni Jiménez and his son Sebastiano Pochettino, who works in sports science.
United are reportedly keen to allow Pochettino to work with familiar members of his coaching team rather than assembling an entirely new technical bench.
Pochettino has extensive Premier League experience, having previously managed Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
His most notable achievement in English football came at Tottenham, whom he guided to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, although they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
He has also managed Paris Saint-Germain, winning the French Ligue 1 title before taking charge of the United States men’s national team in 2024.
His experience rebuilding teams and developing young players is believed to make him an attractive candidate for United’s hierarchy.
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are close to agreeing terms with Pochettino, but his appointment remains dependent on the club’s final decision regarding Carrick.
United executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox are expected to meet minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco to discuss the club’s managerial situation.
Pochettino has also previously expressed his commitment to the United States project, although he has left the door open to future opportunities.
In remarks reported by The Guardian, he said:
” In life, nothing is sure. Less in football.
The financial picture: Manchester United could therefore face an initial compensation bill exceeding £10.5 million (approximately KSh1.8 billion) to secure Pochettino and his preferred backroom staff. This figure does not include any new salary or contract bonuses for the manager, meaning the full financial commitment could be considerably higher.
For United, the question is no longer just who should replace Carrick, but how much the club is willing to spend to get its next managerial appointment right.
