Gary Neville tells Mauricio Pochettino to demand transfer backing before taking Manchester United job

Gary Neville has warned Mauricio Pochettino not to become Manchester United manager unless the club guarantees him significant backing in the transfer market.

Manchester United announced on Thursday that Michael Carrick had left his position after a disappointing start to the season. The club said it intends to appoint a permanent successor as soon as possible, with reports claiming an agreement has been reached with former Tottenham and Chelsea manager Pochettino.

Pochettino is currently with the United States national team, and Manchester United would have to pay £7.5m to terminate his contract. Reports say the club has reached a verbal agreement with the Argentine to become their next manager.

However, Manchester United legend Neville believes Pochettino must protect his position before accepting the role.

“If I was Mauricio Pochettino right now, I would literally protect myself as much as possible,” Neville told The Overlap on the Stick to Football programme.

“He would be doing it for a reward. So put that in your contract. But secondly, he needs two defenders in January.

“He has to insist on getting two defenders in January. He has to insist on having a budget next summer, and he has to insist on having a budget after that. They have to give it to him, otherwise he should not take the job.”

‘Worst defence in the Premier League’

Neville said Manchester United had spent money in midfield but needed to strengthen their defence with quality players.

“Look at the back four they finished with on Sunday,” he said. “It was Diogo Dalot at left-back, Noussair Mazraoui at right-back, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.”

“That might be the worst back four in the Premier League. I do not know of a worse back four in the Premier League at the moment if you watch the games.

“I cannot believe Manchester United have ended up with that back four.”

Manchester United’s poor run

Manchester United dropped into the bottom three after coming from two goals behind twice in Sunday’s match against Aston Villa.

The result extended their winless run to eight matches. Their only three points came against Ipswich in August.

Their poor sequence has also included a 4-1 defeat by Como and a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth.

United officials wanted to dismiss Carrick after those two heavy defeats, but chose to wait until this week’s international break.

That delay left the club at risk of having to appoint an interim manager for their match against rivals Liverpool on 22 November 2026.

Pochettino is due to lead the United States in their two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Haiti before moving to Manchester United if the deal is formally completed.