Manchester United may already have their eyes on their first signing of the Mauricio Pochettino era in Chelsea star Malo Gusto. It has been a busy international break at Old Trafford, with United deciding to axe Michael Carrick following a poor start to the season that has seen them win just one of their first 10 Premier League games this season.

Carrick did oversee a comeback win over AS Roma and a comeback draw against Aston Villa before the break, but that wasn't enough to save him. United are now expected to trigger the release clause of USMNT boss Pochettino in a bold appointment.

The appointment will mean a change of style for United, with Pochettino typically liking his sides to play attacking football that requires the full-back to do plenty of heavy lifting when it comes to covering ground. The incoming United boss will want attacking full-backs who can deliver quality balls at the top of the pitch, and Gusto fits the bill.

"We have an idea, a philosophy, in which we like to use full-backs who can get forward, who use the lanes." - Mauricio Pochettino

According to TalkSPORT, United are 'keeping tabs' on the Chelsea man, who was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City during the summer transfer window. There were suggestions Gusto wanted to leave in the summer, and that is still expected to be the case, given he has struggled for game time under Xabi Alonso, starting only three times.

Chelsea are said to be asking for around £75million to sell Gusto, and on one hand, City might have an advantage due to the fact their head coach Enzo Maresca got the best out of Gusto previously. But there is no ignoring the pending guilty verdict that hangs above City, and not only could they be banned from making new signings in the near future, but players may be hesitant to join a club that could be handed a points deduction that could impact potential achievements for years to come.

United could take advantage of that, and Gusto has also worked with Pochettino before, when the Argentine was in charge at Stamford Bridge,

Back then, Pochettino said of the full-back: "He is a player with a great capacity going forward and attacking. Like the cross against Brentford, the quality going forward is really good."

Where Gusto could fit in at Old Trafford

United's current right-backs include Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot, and it's likely he would replace the latter. Mazraoui produced some nice moments against Villa last time out, while Dalot has been exposed at times, such as the Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

United have a particular need for a left-back this winter, with no senior cover for Luke Shaw beyond winger Patrick Dorgu, and if they do sign a right-back, it would surely mean that someone like Dalot heads out.