Can Man United afford Mauricio Pochettino? Compensation info as Premier League strugglers eye USMNT boss

Can Man United afford Mauricio Pochettino? Compensation info as Premier League strugglers eye USMNT boss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as a man in demand amid Manchester United's latest crisis.Red Devils boss Michael Carrick is understood to be on the brink of losing his job, with United spending the November international break in the relegation zone after one win out of 10 in the Premier League this season.Former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann were the names in the frame when speculation over Carrick's future gathered pace in the aftermath of a dispiriting 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.Since Sunday's crazy 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, several reports in the UK have identified Pochettino as being among the frontrunners, as United CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox prepare for talks with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco this week.It is not the first time Pochettino has been touted as a potential United manager, having been linked when Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer departed in 2018 and 2021 respectively.This time, Pochettino is settled in his job in charge of the United States men's national team and recently signed a new contract after a solid performance at the World Cup. This will have a key influence over whatever happens next.MORE:Next Man United manager: Ranking 5 best candidates if Man United sack Michael Carrick, with Pochettino in the frameNext Man United manager: What is Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT release clause?According to The Athletic, Pochettino's release clause from his job as head coach of the U.S. men's national team is in the region of $10million.Further compensation would be required if United were to buy out Pochettino's coaches, such as his long-time assistant Jesus Perez.After leading the United States to the Round of 16 at the World Cup, where they were beaten 4-1 by Belgium, Pochettino signed an extended contract that runs through to the next World Cup in 2030.By way of comparison, numerous reports at the end of October claimed Newcastle United would be entitled to £3m ($3.94m) compensation if United appointed Howe, who still had time to run on his contract at St James' Park when he stepped down earlier this year.MORE:Man United's comebacks and chaos are not a reason to keep Michael CarrickCan Man United afford Pochettino?Fans have made scathing and sustained criticisms of the Manchester United ownership during the sharp downturn in form. Carrick has been spared much criticism, while much anger has been directed towards both Ratcliffe and the Glazer family.The Glazers' leveraged buyout of United in May 2005 cloaks all that has gone wrong on the field afterwards. A report by The Athletic earlier this month detailing United's use of revolving credit facilities (RCFs) since late 2020, estimated the club's overall debt stands at £779m.It's part of a complicated picture for a club where revenues are projected to his record levels of between £740m and £760m this season. A return to the Champions League is a key factor here, and it already looks unlikely that United will be able to reach Europe's top competition next term.That will have a knock-on effect, and Ratcliffe has overseen swinging off-field cuts in a vain attempt to balance the books. Major soccer clubs operating in debt, especially ones that have a significant turnover, is not uncommon and does not contravene financial rules in itself.United could definitely afford the Pochettino compensation payments, but it is not an outlay that they can put down mindlessly. Carrick is only contracted until the end of next season but will also be entitled to a compensation package if sacked.