Mauricio Pochettino drops Man Utd hint as Erik ten Hag waits on INEOS decision

Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that he would be open to replacing Erik ten Hag at Manchester United next season. The Red Devils are yet to decide whether to sack their current boss, with INEOS taking their time to mull over whether he is the right man for the job.

Thomas Tuchel has been touted among the favourites to succeed Ten Hag in the United dugout if the Dutchman is relieved of his duties. However, it emerged last week that Tuchel was not interested in moving to Old Trafford despite holding talks with the club’s hierarchy.

With the former Bayern Munich boss out of the running, United could decide to seek talks with Pochettino after he insisted that he would be open to speaking to clubs.

Quizzed on his future after managing the Rest of World team at Soccer Aid, he said: “I have full energy and I think we [Chelsea] finished really well. Now we just wait and see what happens. In football you never know, things can happen.

“Today, nothing but tomorrow can appear and any opportunity, we are open to listen, open to football.”

Pochettino was sacked by Chelsea at the end of last season despite leading the Blues to qualify for the Europa Conference League after a dreadful start to the campaign. He was linked with a move to United before they appointed Ten Hag to replace Ralf Rangnick in the summer of 2022.

The Argentine was widely expected to remain at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea won their last five Premier League games to secure European football next season. However, those in power saw things differently and they agreed to part ways following end-of-season talks.

In a statement after his Chelsea exit was confirmed, Pochettino said: “Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history. The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”

It remains to be seen if United will approach Pochettino for talks if they decide to sack Ten Hag, who remains tied down until the summer of 2025. Gareth Southgate, Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potter are just a handful of the other candidates to have been linked with the Red Devils as of late.