Manchester United set for 17.5 million pound Pochettino swoop

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gone

On Sunday morning, Manchester United announced that they had parted ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, following picking up just 4 points from their last 7 games, and after a 4-1 defeat to Watford at Vicarage Road.

Manchester United can confirm that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as Manager.

Thank you for everything, Ole ❤️#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 21, 2021

While it feels as though it has come months too late, it is ultimately the only decision that was left open to the Manchester United hierarchy after a terrible run of form that has seen them slip from 3rd to 8th place in the top flight, and now sit 12 points off league leaders Chelsea.

Now, attentions turn to who could possibly come into Old Trafford and improve the dire situation. The main name in the frame for the role is former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, currently in charge at Paris Saint Germain in France.

Poch poached?

It is perhaps football’s worst-kept secret that Manchester United are massive admirers of Argentine boss Mauricio Pochettino, who spent 5 years in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, guiding them to a Champions League final.

Now with PSG, Pochettino is yet to set the league alight, having been pipped by Lille to the Ligue 1 title last campaign, and knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champions League by Manchester City.

And now, as per BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, he would be “open” to returning to England in charge of Manchester United, with it “not out of the question” that they get their man now, as opposed to the end of the season.

Mauricio Pochettino is open to the @ManUtd job. Issues at PSG. https://t.co/HXJcNkkJvu

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) November 22, 2021

But how much would it cost to bring the Argentine to Old Trafford? Well, as per The Mirror, it would cost a princely 10 million pounds should they move for Poch now, or a more reasonable 5 million pounds should they wait until the summer.

However, the Manchester Evening News report that the Red Devils are “confident” of making Pochettino their next manager, scrapping the need for an interim.

With the 10 million, added to the 7.5 million that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was owed as severance pay after being fired, and it does look as though to change manager, Manchester United could be set to take a 17.5 million pound hit, which could affect future transfer budgets.

Would Poch be the right move?

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