Pochettino’s Top 5 Focus Areas: Cleaning Out Man Utd’s Deadwood, Resolving Bruno’s Future, and Surprising Transfer for Former Star

November 14, 2026 sportnow MANCHESTER UNITED is now just one point away from the top four compared to when they initially approached Mauricio Pochettino for the managerial position in December 2018.

Back then, they occupied the sixth spot; presently, they are in 18th place.

Pochettino will arrive at a club where fans are eager for a change at the helm, calling for the departure of the owners, the chief executive, the football director, and numerous players.

Despite the challenging environment, raising a squad with talented players to a more commendable position in an underperforming Premier League should not be overly complex.

For Pochettino’s own benefit, he must receive objective and solid advice. It’s crucial for him to assess players based on their current contributions instead of their past performances.

Man Utd monitoring Como star Nico Paz, but Real Madrid holds a £67m buy-back option

Mauricio Pochettino emerged on Man Utd’s radar only late last month

Pochettino will need to determine the futures of several senior players within his first six months, which could significantly influence his time at United.

United’s numerous contract proposals for Bruno Fernandes indicate that they are keen on retaining him, even at a time when they should consider letting him go.

While Fernandes has been an outstanding player for the club, United’s dependency on him has limited their progress.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

In recent months, that reliance has been detrimental, and Michael Carrick was unable to orchestrate effective performances from the supporting players. United must revert to a more balanced team that does not rely heavily on one individual.

The decision on whether Fernandes stays or departs is significant. United could opt to sell him in January, which seems improbable, allow him to leave in the summer, or extend his contract until 2028 and potentially secure a fee later.

Pochettino as a strong leader needs to decide the course of Fernandes’ future, while also considering the player’s own sentiments.

Football director Jason Wilcox leads recruitment efforts, but this is a decision on which Pochettino must have considerable influence, and it needs a resolution soon.

Get tickets to see Man Utd at Old Trafford with our exclusive deals.

The offers include an official match ticket and an overnight stay in a nearby hotel.

*If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue.

Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw will all see their contracts expire in the summer. Shaw expressed in Pochettino’s 2017 book a desire to play for him again, but their association shouldn’t extend beyond this season.

Shaw’s history with injuries far outweighs his appearances in his 13-year tenure at United, and he has struggled with the demands this season.

Signing a left-back is essential for United next year. Retaining a player that Jose Mourinho wanted to replace for an upgrade in 2018 would be illogical.

Martinez’s form has been poor for his three-and-a-half years at the club; he is frequently sidelined and prone to errors. His nationality should not influence his future at United, and the only consideration regarding the one-year option on his deal is whether to exercise it to secure a fee in the summer.

With Maguire also having a one-year option in his contract, and being available for all matches this season, keeping him as a squad player for one more year holds some merit.

Conversely, trading Maguire and Martinez could create opportunities for new center-backs that United desperately needs.

Diogo Dalot’s and Noussair Mazraoui’s contracts run until 2028, and at least one must leave to make space for a new right-back.

Since Paul Parker’s acquisition in 1991, United has yet to secure a successful senior right-back.

Marcus Rashford is approaching the final 18 months of his contract, which lacks a plus-one option. He has not played in over a month, has not scored for the club in nearly two years, and was reluctant to return in the summer. This situation should influence Pochettino’s decision.

Players like Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, and Matthijs de Ligt will also need to be evaluated for potential departures during Ineos’s first summer.

Pochettino endured the lack of any signings during the 2018 summer transfer window courtesy of Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, but facing the upcoming winter window without any reinforcements would be unacceptable.

After Ruben Amorim’s appointment in November, United made a tailored signing in left-wing back Patrick Dorgu during the winter window.

This gives Pochettino leverage, as the urgency for reinforcements is heightened now that United is 18th, with their defense in its most chaotic state since the 1974 relegation.

United must acquire a reliable left-back and a competent support striker. Candidates like Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Muniz present viable short-term options that should be considered. Danny Welbeck is a player worth approaching given his limited playing time at Chelsea.

In recent seasons, United has settled for unremarkable mid-season signings. They had to make do with loanees Jack Butland, Wout Weghorst, and Marcel Sabitzer last January, combined with Dorgu as a data-focused acquisition in 2025, and Ayden Heaven costing only £1.5m in the same window.

This time around, it’s widely acknowledged that the club misstepped by not securing a left-back and a support striker in the summer, making active negotiations essential.

Nearly every manager at United after Ferguson has contributed to the academy.

David Moyes saw the rise of Adnan Januzaj, while Louis van Gaal brought forth Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard. Mourinho had Scott McTominay, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nurtured Mason Greenwood, Ralf Rangnick focused on Anthony Elanga, and Erik ten Hag trusted Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Interest in academy players has waned in the last two years, alongside the managerial turnstile at Carrington. Shea Lacey thrived under Amorim and showcased his talent during Carrick’s tenure.

Although United reached the FA Youth Cup final last season, the team relied on JJ Gabriel, who has since signed with Madrid.

During his time at Tottenham, Pochettino significantly contributed to the England national team, akin to what Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate did. Tottenham had five representatives in the 2018 World Cup squad, the oldest of whom was 27. Pochettino also molded Kyle Walker into the world’s priciest full-back.

Pochettino’s experience with youth talents is a major factor behind United’s decision to employ him. Given their fullback struggles, the potential inclusion of 19-year-olds Jaydan Kamason and Harry Amass must not be overlooked.

Lacking athleticism, 18-year-old Godwill Kukonki appears promising when he returns to health.

Currently, United ranks 19th for total distance run in the Premier League, 17th for high-speed running distance, and 19th for average maximum speed this season.

Compared to the 17 matches Carrick oversaw last season, metrics for high-speed running, sprint distances, sprints, high-speed runs, and accelerations have all declined. They rank last among the 20 Premier League clubs in the Gradient Sports athleticism score.

Carrick lacked a personal fitness coach and allowed players to take the day off following games. These were early indicators of issues.

Pochettino demands high fitness levels; former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld referred to pre-season as “brutal,” while Youri Tielemans mentioned being advised to “take it easy” when he first arrived at United.

The atmosphere has been overly relaxed, with players reportedly enjoying the golf course at the Carton House training camp; however, Pochettino is not inclined towards golfing.