Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino is considered the ideal candidate to replace Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, according to Manchester Evening News.
The newspaper claim that even though Mourinho recently signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2020, the Spurs manager stays in the thoughts of Old Trafford’s hierarchy regarding their long-term plans.
Manchester Evening News report that Pochettino is not expected to walk away from Spurs and Mourinho’s new deal gives the club breathing room in case the Argentinian manager’s situation changes.
The report also claims that even if Pochettino left Tottenham to join Real Madrid in the summer, Manchester United officials would not worry as they expect he will probably be back on the market by 2020.
Max Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti are thought to be among the other candidates considered to be suitable replacements for Mourinho, but Pochettino is understood to be the club’s first choice.
Mourinho’s side are currently five points clear of Pochettino’s Spurs in the Premier League, with them sitting three places higher in second.
OPINION
It should be no surprise that Manchester United would love Pochettino as their manager. The Argentinean has done a wonderful job at Tottenham, and more importantly has utilise the club’s academy. Pochettino’s arrival could remind fans of the glory days under Alex Ferguson, when he not only won trophies, but their academy was a shining example for others. Manchester United may have spent the cash to achieve success under Fergie as well, but especially in his early days, the club was churning out its own stars to help him win honour after honour. While Real Madrid look more capable of tearing Pochettino away from Tottenham, it’s not hard to imagine a world where the 45-year-old is in charge at Old Trafford.