The USMNT isn’t chasing small fish in its search for a new manager following the Gregg Berhalter era.

According to The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio, former Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is a “top target” for the country.

Per that report, “Sources said that the federation was still considering multiple candidates as of last week, but Pochettino is seen by some as the favorite in the pool, and U.S. Soccer is engaged in conversations with his camp.”

It would certainly be a high-profile hire.

Pochettino, 52, has several impressive career highlights, including leading Tottenham to the Champions League final and PSG to a Ligue 1 title. His one season at Chelsea in the 2023-24 campaign didn’t go to plan, however, as the Blues finished just sixth despite a series of high-profile additions in the transfer market.

Chelsea did win their final five Premier League matches to close the season, an indication that perhaps Pochettino was righting the ship. It wasn’t enough to save his job, though, as his disagreements with the sporting directors ultimately proved unresolvable and led to a mutual parting.

Pochettino’s profile means he won’t come cheap, but that apparently isn’t a concern for the USMNT.

“It’s a really competitive market out there, salary-wise, and we have to be competitive to get the level of coach that I believe can take the program forward in terms of achieving the results that we want on the field,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker told reporters. “It’s a priority. It’s something we’re prepared to invest in and something that we will be investing in.”

It’s also an appointment that the United States has to get right. The Americans boast arguably the most talented young core in its history, but Berhalter wasn’t able to raise the level in meaningful ways. Advancing out of the group stage at the 2022 World Cup was positive—as has been the recent dominance of Mexico—but beyond that, the USMNT often underachieved.

The Americans don’t want to disappoint at a 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. A Pochettino hire would undoubtedly be a major statement from U.S. Soccer.