Man Utd sack Michael Carrick with Mauricio Pochettino set to be appointed after worst start to Premier League season

It was an ugly affair from the perspective of the Premier League giants, but one that was in keeping with much of their season and, indeed, much of the club’s recent history.

The writing had been on the wall for Carrick for days, if not weeks, but instead of putting him out of his misery, United kept dragging him into training to be paraded in front of the world media.

Carrick departs less than six months after signing a two-year contract, having overseen the club's worst start to a Premier League season with United in the relegation zone after picking up one win in 10 matches.

In a statement on Thursday morning, shortly after Carrick left the training ground, United said they reached "the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary to achieve our ambitions".

United, who reached a full agreement with USA head coach Pochettino, say they intend to appoint a permanent successor "as quickly as possible". He is set to be the eighth permanent appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

As things stand, the Argentine is likely to remain in charge of the USA for their Nations League against Haiti on Saturday and Wednesday before starting work next Thursday. He is expected to take charge of United's first game after the international break against Liverpool.

Sources say that Pochettino has a release clause of about $10m (£7.5m) in his newly-signed contract with the USA. Talks with the United Soccer Federation are at the "paperwork and regulatory processes" stage.

Carrick’s departure comes with United third from the bottom of the Premier League, a point behind 17th-placed Coventry, and 17th in the Champions League standings. His exit follows a review led by the director of football, Jason Wilcox, and a recommendation to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls sporting policy. Wilcox and United’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, travelled to Monaco to meet with Ratcliffe.

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