Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick, the club have confirmed.

United are close to an agreement with Mauricio Pochettino and have made contact with the U.S. Soccer Federation as they push forward with plans to hire the former Argentina defender as Carrick&039;s successor, sources have told ESPN.

Carrick leaves Old Trafford with United in the Premier League's relegation zone after just one league win all season.

Carrick met executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox at Carrington on Thursday morning -- following a meeting between Berrada, Wilcox and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday -- where he was informed of the decision.

Sources have told ESPN that after heavy back-to-back defeats to Como and Bournemouth last month, club bosses wanted to give Carrick and the players "a further opportunity" to turn things around.