Mauricio Pochettino wants to be considered for the Manchester United manager’s job next season despite having four-and-a-half years left on his contract at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Argentinian is understood to regard the opportunity of moving to Old Trafford as too good to turn down, although it would cost United £34 million in compensation to prise him from Tottenham, which would take the club’s total bill for sacking José Mourinho earlier today past £50 million.
Pochettino refused to rule out the possibility of moving to United when asked about his intentions in a press conference today and is believed to have given the prospect serious thought already.
Despite his attachment to Tottenham and good working relationship with chairman Daniel Levy the 46-year-old is understood to have deep frustrations about the way the club his run, particularly regarding the lack of backing he has received in the transfer market, a tightly-controlled wage structure, the failure to offload players he no longer wanted last summer and delays to the opening of their new stadium.
Pochettino will have to continue operating within such financial restrictions at Tottenham for several years even after the stadium is open, which would not apply to him at Old Trafford.
While United may not appear to be the right fit for a manager who values a strong work ethic and team unity above a superstar culture, Pochettino has doubts about whether he can achieve all his ambitions at Tottenham, who have not won a trophy for ten years. Despite being criticised by some observers for prioritising Champions League qualification ahead of silverware, Pochettino is very ambitious and is not content with finishing in the top four every year.
Pochettino is also coveted by Real Madrid, who are also planning to make a permanent managerial appointment at the end of the season, but views the United job as a greater opportunity as it is becomes available less frequently.
After years of underachievement since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 Pochettino is also convinced that it would not make much to make a significant improvement, particularly if he is backed in the transfer market.
United are understood to be preparing an offer for Pochettino and his entire first-team coaching staff — Jesús Pérez, Toni Jiménez and Miguel D’Agostino — to move to Old Trafford, but must first reach an agreement with Tottenham.
The club tied Pochettino to a new five-year contract worth £8.5 million per season last summer which does not contain a release clause, leaving United with no option but to buy it out in full in order to secure him.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have activated the option to extend Jan Vertonghen’s contract by one year to 2020.
lukzlat910
50
Tottenham no trophies so he's not fit for United