Manchester United have begun talks with Mauricio Pochettino and could appoint the Paris Saint-Germain boss almost immediately following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.
United have made Pochettino their preferred candidate to take the club forward after previous favourite Zinedine Zidane passed up the opportunity to take over at Old Trafford.
Daily Record Sport claims that United chiefs are pleased by the speed with which Pochettino has indicated he would be willing to leave PSG, less than four months into his first full season in charge.
In a huge boost to the club’s chances of landing their new number one target, the report also adds that the Red Devils have begun conversations to buy out the 49-year-old’s contract.
The former Tottenham and Southampton coach has reportedly been unhappy in the French capital for some time and signalled his interest in the United job to several journalists in the aftermath of Solskjaer’s sacking.
Taking over at Old Trafford would come with its own problems, but the task at hand is seen as much easier than dealing with PSG’s ego-led dressing room.
Despite that, Pochettino remains a popular figure among the players at Parc des Princes, although a number of key personnel have been left unimpressed by the manager’s tactical nous and decision making.
The in-demand boss has never made any secret of the fact he would like to manage in the Premier League again and while he is currently living in a hotel in Paris, his family are still in London.
PSG previously blocked Pochettino’s botched return to Tottenham in the summer, exercising a clause to extend his contract until 2022.
But there’s nothing to say the club’s owners would’t be open to accepting a huge compensation payment from United this month, especially given this is the second time he has hinted at a possible exit from the club.
However, such a move would come with obstacles, including approval from the Emir of Qatar. That may not be easy and could be contingent on PSG having a replacement for Pochettino lined up.
That replacement could be former Real Madrid coach Zidane, who is not interested in moving to Old Trafford, according to media reports on Monday.