Pochettino emerges as top candidate for Man United job if Carrick is axed

Relegation zone, a bench under pressure and the same name circling Old Trafford once again. Manchester United are looking toward the United States, and this time it's not for a signing but for a coach: USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the favorite to take charge if the club decides to part ways with Michael Carrick, according to The Standard.

There's a catch, though. Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham and Chelsea in the Premier League, signed a contract extension with the US national team back in August that runs through 2030, and that's not an agreement easily broken. Still, his name carries weight, and he's not the only one on the list. Eddie Howe, formerly of Newcastle, and Julian Nagelsmann, who has coached the German national team, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, also figure on United's shortlist. Both are currently out of work, which would make things simpler if United decide to pull the trigger on a change.

Murillo and Aït-Nouri, the names on defense

While the manager's future gets sorted out, the club isn't sitting still on the transfer front either. Football Insider reports that United want to strengthen their back line with Murillo, the Brazilian center back at Nottingham Forest. He's 24, arrived from Corinthians in 2023 for around 6 million euros, and his valuation is said to have grown tenfold since. He's not the only defensive target either: Rayan Aït-Nouri, the Manchester City left back, is also being strongly linked. United had already emerged as a surprise suitor late in the summer, when it looked like the 25 year old might be on his way out, and if the deal gets done in January it would mark an unusual transfer between crosstown rivals, something that hasn't happened directly since 2012.

The club is also keeping an eye beyond England. According to Nicolò Schira, United scouts were present at the Atalanta - Monza match, closely watching Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, 26, under contract until 2028, and Monza forward Gustavo Varela, just 21, who has scored nine goals in ten Serie A appearances and is starting to turn heads across Europe.

What else is moving around the continent

Fabrizio Romano flatly ruled out any exit for Lionel Messi from Inter Miami. There had been talk of a possible return to Newell's Old Boys, the club where he came through the ranks, but his contract runs until 2028 and, according to Romano, MLS will remain his home for at least two more years before anything else gets considered.

In London, Tottenham and Chelsea are closely monitoring Ismaelo Ganiou, the 21 year old Lens center back who has already made 37 appearances for the French club. The list of suitors doesn't stop there: PSG, Manchester City, Newcastle, Fulham and Brentford are all tracking him as well.

There's more movement out there too: Liverpool, United and Chelsea are watching Koni de Winter, the 24 year old AC Milan center back; Everton, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town are interested in Minnesota United forward Kelvin Yeboah; and at Liverpool, Ronald Araújo prefers to wait until the end of the season before deciding whether to trigger the mandatory 55 million euro purchase clause that would make his move from Barcelona permanent.

Elsewhere, Kostas Tsimikas's days at Anfield appear numbered: his contract expires next summer, and Milos Kerkez is already being floated as his natural successor at left back. In Italy, AC Milan are negotiating a new deal for young forward Alphadjo Cissè to fend off growing Premier League interest, while Napoli could reportedly be open to hearing offers for Kevin De Bruyne in January, with the Belgian's contract winding down.

Thierno Barry, the Everton forward with six goals in ten matches this season, is drawing attention from Newcastle, Crystal Palace, RB Leipzig and Como. In Germany, Eintracht Frankfurt are pushing to sign PSG full back David Boly, just 17, whose contract expires next summer. And in Milan, the club will terminate David Odogu's loan at Toulouse so the 20 year old center back can find playing time elsewhere during January.

Finally, Crystal Palace's bench situation could also shift: Thomas Frank has emerged as the leading candidate should the club decide to part ways with Pierre Sage during the international break. The Eagles sit bottom of the Premier League table with just seven points from ten matches, a situation that's starting to weigh heavily.