Mauricio Pochettino is due to be appointed as Manchester United's next head coach following the decision to sack Michael Carrick after 10 Premier League games in charge.

United currently sit 18th in the Premier League, in the relegation zone, and have already lost two of their four European games. Although Carrick and his staff have taken training this week, he is expected to be relieved of his duties on Thursday.

Pochettino is currently the manager of the United States Men's National Team and will manage the squad in their two games against Haiti during the international break. He will then travel to Manchester to start his new job at Old Trafford.

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has been close to securing the United job for a long time, most recently interviewing for the position before Erik ten Hag was appointed in 2022. Now he finally has his chance.

United haved fired three first-team coaches in the last three seasons, with Ten Hag, Rúben Amorim, and Carrick having all been sacked since the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

With this in mind, former United captain Gary Neville has stated that Pochettino must "protect" himself with a massive payoff clause in his contract.

However, the former defender also instisted that he feels Pochettino should only accept the job if the United cheifs promise to sign two new defenders for him in the Janaury trnasfer window.

United have conceded 30 goals across all competitions this season – the most out of any club in Europe's top five leagues – and although they can score, the mamnouth number of goals conceded has hurt the club dearly.

"If I was Mauricio Pochettino now, I would be literally protecting myself up to the high heaven," Neville declared on The Stick to Football podcast

"He’ll do that with a payoff. So do that in your contract. But secondly, he needs two defenders in January. So he’s got to insist that he gets two defenders in January. He’s got to insist that he gets a minimum budget next summer for the transfer we’re not to be able to turn this around. He’s got to insist that he gets a budget that follows.

"They have to give it to him, or else he shouldn’t take the job. If you are not going to give them a look without that defense and that midfield, by the way, and that midfield has some money spent on it, then you’re saying they've got to get two defenders; they've got to get two good defenders.

"I mean, look, the back four that he finished with on Sunday was Dalot left back, Mazraoui right back, Lenny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. That is probably the worst back four in the Premier League.

"I don’t know a back four that is worse than that in the Premier League right now if I watch it. That is I can’t believe Manchester United have ended up with that back four."

Neville is right. Pochettino will desperately need new defenders in the January transfer window if the club want him to secure European football next season. However, in the longer term, United must refresh at least half their squad.

The likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, and Mason Mount have failed to make a consistent impact at the club, while others, such as Marcus Rashford and Noussair Mazoui, may be moved on as their performances haven't met recent or prior expectations.

United have often held on to players for far too long, and they must become more proactive about getting rid of those whose performances are fading before it becomes a problem.

Players like Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martínez have had either injury or disciplinary issues for an extended period and must be replaced by more reliable players.