Man Utd line up £40m Mauricio Pochettino to replace Jose Mourinho

Mauricio Pochettino was appointed Tottenham Hotspur manager in May 2014

(Image credit: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

Manchester United are “desperate” to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s new manager in place of Jose Mourinho at the end of the season.

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The Sun reports that the Tottenham boss is the “only contender” to replace Mourinho, who has a clause in his United contract that will make it cheaper to sack him if the club don’t qualify for the Champions League.

After 15 games this season United are currently in eighth position in the Premier League table with 23 points, eight behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

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They are also 18 points behind league leaders Manchester City and the Sun says that Mourinho “knows he is on borrowed time at Old Trafford”.

£40m for Poch

Former Southampton boss Pochettino was appointed as Tottenham manager in May 2014 and he has led the north London club to top-three finishes in the past three seasons.

The 46-year-old only signed a new five-year contract in May and is said to be “determined” to lead Tottenham when they move to their new stadium in 2019.

However, according to the Sun United are prepared to fork out £40m in compensation to make Pochettino their next boss.

Ahead of a new era for the club Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy faces a “huge battle” to keep his manager.

Despite the stadium move it’s claimed that Pochettino is “frustrated” with the lack of investment at Spurs having failed to sign any players in the summer transfer window.

In tomorrow’s Premier League matches Spurs travel to Leicester City (7.45pm) while United are at home to Fulham (3pm).