Pochettino arrival opens door for Man Utd to sign ex-Arsenal star after agent talks

Man United made their decision on Michael Carrick, with Mauricio Pochettino taking over at Old Trafford.

Pochettino takes over United after Carrick exit

REUTERS/Blake Dahlin

United confirmed Carrick’s departure on Thursday, and it didn’t take long for reports to emerge that Pochettino then verbally agreed to take the job he had reportedly had his eyes on for close to a decade.

Pochettino’s USA contract had a release clause set at around £7m, which tempted United in the first place, but he’ll remain in charge for their Nations League games against Haiti, which leaves him little time with his new players as he prepares for the dugout at Anfield on November 22.

Carrick took United back into the Champions League last season, but the side Pochettino inherits sit 18th with eight points and one win from 10 games.

Carrick’s last match was the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, when United needed two goals in stoppage time just to get a point at home.

The fightback gave the crowd something to cheer, but the table shows how little time the next manager will have to settle in.

Liverpool away is the first job on the list, and January comes further down it, although the change is already making Old Trafford a more appealing destination for a striker Pochettino knows well.

Folarin Balogun’s agents give Man United fresh encouragement

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Graeme Bailey reports for TEAMtalk that Folarin Balogun’s agents have told United he’s now more keen to explore a move with Pochettino at the helm.

The Monaco striker was already an option for January, but knowing who would be picking the team has changed how he sees the move.

Bailey reported earlier this month that Balogun had been put forward to United after his proposed summer move to Everton fell through, with Paris Brunner becoming Monaco’s preferred striker, leaving Balogun with six Ligue 1 appearances this season, all of them off the bench.

Pochettino has seen what Balogun can do when he gets a run in the side.

He scored twice in the USA’s World Cup win over Paraguay and is back in camp for the Haiti games. He also told reporters on Thursday that he’d prefer Pochettino to stay with the national team, a sign of how much he values working with him.

Monaco are said to be open to a January exit, and that leaves United to decide whether to turn the encouragement from Balogun’s camp into an approach of their own.

Balogun would give United a striker who stretches defences

REUTERS/Manon Cruz

Balogun would give United a centre forward who makes defenders turn.

Between late February and early May last season, Opta tracked him making 83 runs behind the defence, the fifth most in Ligue 1 over that spell.

That gives Bruno Fernandes a pass to hit as soon as he gets his head up, and opens up space for United’s wide players if a defender follows Balogun out of the middle.

He could help United win the ball higher up, too.

Opta logged 239 presses from Balogun in the final third over the same stretch, useful for a manager who wants his striker closing down the first pass.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Steven Bisig

Five Champions League goals last term, including two against PSG, show he can make those runs count against good defences.

United have been short up front with Benjamin Šeško out with a shin injury, with Balogun boasting some minor Premier League experience from his Arsenal days.

He makes most sense as competition for Šeško, with a clear job when he comes in — stretch the back line, give United an outlet and get into the box to finish.