Manchester United have today named Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Jose Mourinho’s short-term replacement at Old Trafford. The club’s former striker will oversee the first-team through to the summer as he attempts to rebuild, rejuvenate, and revitalise a confidence-crushed squad wounded by United’s worst ever start to a Premier League season.
But, while United have been relatively swift in finding an interim manager following the sacking of Mourinho, who is on their radar for the permanent position?
Top of Man Utd’s wishlist is no doubt – sorry Spurs fans – Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentinian first made himself known in England with a successful 18-month spell at Southampton, before darting over to Spurs in the summer of 2014.
In the subsequent four-and-a-half-years he’s propelled himself into the top cluster of managers plying their trade in European football. However, Spurs are now bracing themselves for a shed-load of speculation and rumour, which will only heat up as we edge towards the summer months.
It’s an obvious link, given Pochettino’s preference for attractive football, eye for developing young talent, and experience of working at a top-four club.
However, Pochettino only signed a blockbuster new five-year contract back in May, through to 2023, worth a reported £8.5million-a-year – that’s a whopping total of £42.5m – meaning it’s going to cost United big bucks if they have any chance of getting their man.
The Independent reports that United will have to shed out something in the region of £34m compensation to acquire Pochettino’s services in the summer.
Pochettino’s new deal doesn’t include a release clause so the Red Devils would have to pay out the remainder of his Spurs contract – it’s already cost United £18m to axe Mourinho.
Pochettino would expect to receive a similar salary to that of the Portuguese coach, roughly £18m. So, for example, if he were to sign a three-year deal, United could have to pay him approximately £60m over that time period. Yikes.
Pochettino was asked about the rumours linking him to United in the aftermath of Mourinho’s exit, to which he said:
“A lot of rumours happen but it is not my business what happened at another club. I am so focused in trying to deliver my best job at this football club.
“We have ahead of us a very busy run of fixtures, tomorrow we play another derby.
“It is so important for us – the quarter-final of the cup and I think everyone understand I am focused on tomorrow and doing my best job.”
Expect a flurry of questions tonight when Spurs face Arsenal in the League Cup quarter-finals…