Manchester United sack Michael Carrick with the club 18th, and Pochettino is reported to have agreed terms

Manchester United dismissed head coach Michael Carrick on Thursday. The club said a change was necessary to achieve its ambitions after a poor start to the season, and promised to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.

United are 18th in the Premier League with eight points from 10 games: one win, five draws and four defeats. ESPN calls it the club's worst start to a league season. Carrick, 45, took over as interim in January, steered United to third last season and was given a two-year contract in May. The Evening Standard counts 173 days between that contract and his dismissal.

Sky Sports reports that United have a verbal agreement in principle with Mauricio Pochettino, with his backroom staff still to be settled. ESPN reports that United contacted U.S. Soccer before triggering his release clause, which ESPN puts at $10 million and Sky at £7 million. ESPN says U.S. Soccer expects Pochettino to coach both Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal legs against Haiti, on Nov. 14 and Nov. 17. United's next game is at Liverpool on Nov. 22.