Will Manchester United hand Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the permanent job? Or will the Red Devils attempt to lure over Mauricio Pochettino, or another high-profile manager?
We’re unlikely to know the answers to these questions until the summer, but at the time of writing Solskjaer remains the odds-on frontrunner for the full-time job, although we all know how quickly things can change in football.
If United were to try their luck and attempt to prise Pochettino from Spurs after five years in the job, this is the stonking compensation fee the club would have to shell out for his services, as reported by the Evening Standard.
“United will not be put off by the prospect of paying Spurs a compensation fee, which it is believed will exceed the £34m value of the remaining four years of Pochettino’s contract.”
Last May Pochettino committed his long-term future to Spurs in the form a new five-year deal – worth up to £8.5m a year – but since Jose Mourinho’s departure in December, the Argentine has been hotly linked with a summer switch.
However, the Evening Standard also reports that the aforementioned astronomical fee is unlikely to put United off.
“As far as United’s accounts are concerned the package would be spread across the length of any proposed deal at Old Trafford, making it a considerably less daunting figure.
“Such figures are unusual and even outlandish for managerial appointments – but considering Woodward’s desperation to get the right man, the cost of landing Pochettino is unlikely to be the determining factor if the Argentine can be convinced to make the switch.
Pochettino led Spurs to an impressive 3-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund last week, while United slumped to their first defeat under Solskjaer in a 2-0 reverse at home to PSG. If this is to be Pochettino’s final season at the north London club, then he’ll be bidding to bow out on a high with his troops still in contention to win the Champions League and Premier League.