United in move for Simeone
MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to turn to Diego Simeone as their new boss with the pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino becoming ever more complicated.
Tottenham supremo Daniel Levy has made it clear that he will not allow manager Pochettino to leave for Old Trafford – at any cost.
Atletico Madrid boss Simeone (above) is on a shortlist of candidates drawn up by United chiefs as they search for Jose Mourinho’s long-term successor.
The Argentine is in talks with Atletico over extending his contract, which ends in 18 months – but that will not stop United making a move for Simeone.
Pochettino is still their number one target, but United will want to
consider every option available to them as Spurs supremo Daniel Levy is understood to have slapped a £50million price tag on the Argentine’s shoulders. And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists that today’s showdown with Pochettino is not an audition for the United job. He said: “It’s not an audition – it’s not about me at all. It should always be about the players. It’s not about me – and it’s not about him [Pochettino]. We don’t kick a ball. The players kick the ball.
“Of course, we might make a decision here or there, but it’s down to the players to perform — and I’m sure my boys are ready.”
Solskjaer has met Pochettino once before – beating his Southampton team 1-0 at St Mary’s when he was in charge of Cardiff in 2014.