KEEP CLOSE POCH
United open talks with top target
MANCHESTER UNITED have opened talks with Mauricio Pochettino about an early move to Old Trafford.
The PSG boss arrives in Manchester today for the Champions League group stage showdown with Pep Guardiola’s City side tomorrow.
But all the attention is on Pochettino’s future and whether United can prise him away from the French giants to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in mid-season.
United had planned to appoint an interim boss until the end of the season because they feared they would be unable to land the Argentine until next summer.
But United have been encouraged by the former Tottenham manager’s apparent willingness to leave Paris immediately, just four months into his first full season there, and return to the Premier League. Pochettino is known to be unsettled in Paris, with his family still living in England, and the 49-yearold is desperate to return to England to take charge of
United. Old Trafford chiefs are understood to have spoken with Pochettino and his camp, with the Argentine the preferred choice of Sir Alex Ferguson to take over.
What could speed up Pochettino’s move is the potential availability of former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane to succeed him at PSG.
Zidane has been holding out for the France job but could be open to taking over at PSG mid-season if Pochettino were to leave for Old Trafford in the coming weeks.
United would have to pay PSG compensation of around £10million to get Pochettino now. That would almost half in the summer when he’d have a year left on his contract.
Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag are also on their managerial shortlist.
Michael Carrick, left, takes charge of United for tonight’s Champions League tie away to Villarreal and he said: “I obviously know the boys very well, the staff very well and the club very well.
“This club has been my life for a long time now. I know the sacrifice and dedication you’ve got to give and I’m prepared to do this for however long it takes.”