United States coach Mauricio Pochettino is the favored candidate to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager with the club ready to fire the 45-year-old due to growing alarm over the team dropping into the Premier League relegation zone, sources have told ESPN.

The United hierarchy, led by co-chairman Joel Glazer, minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, is assessing Carrick's position after the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season left United just one point off the bottom of the table having won once in 10 league games to date.

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While sources have said discussions are ongoing and will continue over the coming days, they have also told ESPN that there is now acceptance that performances and results demand a change of manager.

Pochettino, 54, extended his contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation until 2030 in August after guiding the United States to the round of 16 at the World Cup this summer.

A source told ESPN that the former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach has an escape clause in his contract with the U.S. for $10 million (£7.4 million), which Man United would have to pay for the Argentine's services.

Former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is another candidate admired by United bosses. Julian Nagelsmann, who is also currently out of work, is among the options, and Kieran McKenna, who was interviewed for the job in 2024, has supporters at Old Trafford.

But it is Pochettino -- who has interviewed for the United job on three previous occasions -- who is regarded as having the Premier League experience and personality needed to drag United out of danger and revive the club's fortunes.

Carrick signed a two-year contract at United in the summer after guiding the club to Champions League qualification following his arrival as interim manager in January.

Sources have said that United believed Carrick, whose only previous managerial experience was with Championship team Middlesbrough, merited a long-term deal after his success at Old Trafford last season.

But senior figures have been shocked by the drop in performances and results this season. After they gave the former United midfielder time to turn around the situation last month, Carrick has been able to win only one of four games since his reprieve, and sources have said that his prospects are now increasingly bleak.

United are next in action against Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22.

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