Manchester United are reportedly ready to spend £32 million to land their next top managerial target Mauricio Pochettino.
According to a report by The Sun, Manchester United will have to pay a hefty sum to swoop Mauricio Pochettino away from Tottenham to make him their next manager. The Red Devils though, are prepared to shell out £32 million to secure the services of Spurs’ manager to replace the under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Pochettino has gone on to become one of the most sought-after managers in world football over the course of his spell with Tottenham. During his stay with the North Londoners, the Argentine has completely transformed the fortunes of the club, establishing them as a genuine top four side while also reaching the UEFA Champions League final earlier this year.
But, the early stages of the 2019-20 season have given way to a lot of frustration, as in addition to spending insufficient sums in the transfer market, in the words of the manager himself, Spurs have also struggled to maintain consistency so far in the campaign.
Tottenham are already ten points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, while also having been booted out of the Carabao Cup this week by fourth-tier club Colchester United. As a result, The Sun suggest that Pochettino is growing unsettled at Tottenham, which is piquing the interest of Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not managed to oversee a strong start to what is his first full season as the Manchester United boss. The Red Devils are level on points with Tottenham, eighth on the Premier League table with just 8 points so far. And, although they avoided the fate that Spurs were subjected to in the Carabao Cup, Manchester United needed a penalty shootout to get past League One side Rochdale.
As a result, the pressure seems to be mounting on Solskjaer, even though Ed Woodward has insisted that the Manchester United board is ready to be patient with the current incumbent. But, if the report is anything to go by, United are looking to poach Pochettino from Tottenham.
The Argentine, though, will not come cheap, seeing as his Spurs contract does not have an exit clause, according to The Sun. Therefore, it is likely that any suitor will have to buy out his contract meaning Manchester United, who are Pochettino’s long-term admirers, will have to pay nearly £32 million to secure his services.
For now, any possible move seems unlikely, with Tottenham prepared to fight tooth and nail to keep hold of Pochettino, while Manchester United are ready to back Solskjaer. But, if the opportunity of a swoop appeared as a possibility, it is likely that United’s top managerial target will be discussed as a possible appointment.
