Pochettino latest as PSG coach set to travel to Manchester ahead of Champions League game

Could Mauricio Pochettino be the new Manchester United manager? Credit: Getty.

Manchester United are ‘confident’ of appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, according to reports emerging on Tuesday morning.

The Red Devils are in search of a news boss after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was replaced at the weekend, following the 4-1 defeat to Watford.

Michael Carrick has been placed in temporary charge of the team and will be in the dugout when United play Villarreal on Tuesday.

But whether it will be his one and only game in the managerial hotseat remains unclear, with multiple reports suggesting Pochettino could be Solskjaer’s long-term successor.

Pochettino hasn’t taken charge of a game at Old Trafford since 2018.

Deal edging closer?

The Manchester Evening News claim United are confident of appointing the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, with current employers Paris Saint-Germain demanding a figure of £10m to secure his immediate appointment.

They also report that Zinedine Zidane was never a serious candidate for the role, while United also held an informal conversation with Brendan Rodgers prior to Solskjaer’s sacking.

It was widely reported on Monday that Pochettino was interested in taking the United job mid-season, something which ManchesterWorld has subsequently been told.

In their statement on Sunday, United said they would appoint an interim manager until the end of the season, but ManchesterWorld has been told that could change if the right candidate became available immediately.

PSG ‘planning for post-Pochettino’

According to ESPN, PSG are already preparing for life after Pochettino and have made contact with Zidane about the possibility of replacing him should he head to United.

While Spanish outlet Marca report that the PSG squad are prepared for the Frenchman’s ‘immediate’ arrival.

They also claim Zidane’s arrival at the Parc des Princes could encourage Kylian Mbappe to remain with PSG beyond this season.

Pochettino en route to Manchester

Regardless of his desire to manage United, Pochettino will travel to Manchester on Tuesday with PSG facing Manchester City the following night in the Champions League.

It could be the Argentinian’s last game at the helm of his current employers and he will face the media at 5.15pm, where there will no doubt be plenty of questions surrounding his future.

PSG face City at 8pm on Wednesday, and if either side win they will secure their spot in the last 16 of the competition.

Follow Manchester World for full coverage from the Etihad.