Mauricio Pochettino has a decision to make. He can either leap into the unknown with Manchester United, or continue making strides with a Tottenham side built in his own image.
Will he open the mystery box? The Daily Telegraph say he is ‘not only United’s No 1 target, but the only one being seriously considered’. And they are willing to put their money where all of the mouths are.
According to Jason Burt and Matt Law, a compensation figure ‘of around £42m has been mooted’, which would quite easily be the most any club has paid to bring in a manager from elsewhere. It would put Pochettino behind only Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Angel Di Maria and Fred in terms of the club’s most expensive signings.
That £34m “compensation” figure for Pochettino is merely the amount left on his Spurs contract. The club are under no legal obligation to accept it and can theoretically ask whatever they want on top of it.
— Gary Parkinson (@GaryParkinson) December 20, 2018
United are ‘prepared to pay whatever it takes’ if Pochettino is open to the move, and reports suggest he does at least want to be considered. But Tottenham will fight tooth and nail to keep him. They will tell him that ‘he will not get the same level of control elsewhere,’ and will make a January signing ‘if the right opportunity can be found’. They will also ‘promise Pochettino a healthy summer transfer budget’.
The fact that United are looking to employ a Director of Football could also benefit Spurs, who agreed not to install one at Pochettino’s behest. This one is going to roll on for months.
Should Manchester United Break the Bank for Pochettino?