Rio Ferdinand is now convinced that one Manchester United talent will be licking their lips at the prospect of playing under Mauricio Pochettino at Old Trafford.

According to Sky Sports, the Red Devils have reached a ‘verbal agreement in principle’ for Mauricio Pochettino to become the next Manchester United manager.

Why Rio Ferdinand feels that Shea Lacey can benefit from Mauricio Pochettino becoming the next Man Utd manager

Manchester United could have to wait for Mauricio Pochettino to arrive at Old Trafford, as the 54-year-old Argentine is away with the United States national team on international duty. However, the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager emerged as the clear favourite to replace Michael Carrick at the Premier League club this week.

Shea Lacey has been knocking on the door of the Manchester United first-team squad in the 2026-27 campaign and appears to be on the verge of establishing himself in the team. A United youth academy product, the 19-year-old Liverpool-born winger has impressed at times during his opportunities under Carrick.

However, Shea Lacey has had to fight for minutes during this season and United legend Carrick has used him sparingly. Speaking on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand feels that Pochettino’s track record of developing young talent at club level will be music to the ears of Red Devils attacker Lacey.

“And I think he’s [Pochettino] somebody who enjoys playing young players, isn’t afraid of it,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.

“And that speaks to Manchester United’s history of playing academy players and bringing them through.

“So, the likes of the Shea Laceys of this world, JJ Gabriel, if he’s still going to be at the club, they’ll be sitting there going, ‘Oh, I could get some time under this new manager.’ If Mauricio Pochettino comes in.”

Lacey has made seven appearances across all competitions for United’s senior team this season and has netted once and registered an assist. Ferdinand pointed to different examples of where players have benefited from Pochettino’s influence, including Luke Shaw playing under the soon-to-be Man Utd boss at Southampton.

“One thing I will say where Pochettino absolutely hits the nail on the head as an option for Manchester United is his ability to identify young talent and have the balls to play them and introduce them,” he explained.

“You go through some of the names that he’s introduced. Luke Shaw, who’s still at Man United now; when he was at Southampton, he had him. Xavi Simons, who’s now at Spurs; when he [Pochettino] was at Paris Saint-Germain, he brought him [Simons] through. [Philippe] Coutinho. I’m missing loads as well, by the way, that he’s had.”

Ferdinand added: “I think Kyle Walker might have been one of the young players that he played at Spurs. I don’t know.

“But there’s loads of players, young kids that he’s had, or players that he’s built. Dele Alli, who he’s put in, and they’ve gone from here to go bang and then gone on to have some great careers.”

Carrick has seen Man Utd tumble into the Premier League relegation zone after the Red Devils’ woeful start to the 2026-27 campaign. United have won only once in the Premier League under the 45-year-old manager, who has overseen five defeats and four draws from the opening 10 league matches.