Man Utd plot raid of Spurs and RB Leipzig with hope of reuniting Mauricio Pochettino and Paul Mitchell Old Trafford hierarchy want to appoint Argentine manager next summer and bring in Mitchell to work as Director of Football

Manchester United want Mauricio Pochettino to take charge next summer, when he could be reunited with Paul Mitchell as director of football.

Jose Mourinho was finally sacked as United manager on Tuesday morning following an awful run of form which has seen them record their worst start to a Premier League season and for creating toxic environment at the club.

United’s supporters trust has called for “a fundamental review of the football operation” to return the club’s culture to the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and for the introduction of a director of football.

i has been told that executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has met with Mitchell, who developed a strong relationship with Pochettino at Southampton and then joined him at Tottenham Hotspur, each time in lead recruitment roles, before leaving for RB Leipzig, where he is in charge of developing youth players and recruitment. Mitchell is credited for bringing Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld to Spurs.

Michael Carrick took charge of training on Tuesday and United will employ an interim manager until the end of the season, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly set to be appointed, but want Spurs manager Pochettino to replace Mourinho in the longterm.

Tough decision for Poch

Pochettino naturally did not rule out a move at the end of the season in a press conference on Tuesday. “It’s not my business what happened today and only I want to send my best wishes to Jose,” he said. “It’s not my business what happens in another club now. I am so focused on training and delivering our best result in this football club.”

Pochettino faces the difficult decision whether to build on his significant development of the club into regular Champions League and Premier League contenders and lead Tottenham into their new stadium, or move to United at the end of the season knowing he could achieve what he would like at Spurs in a much shorter timeframe.

The Argentinian only signed a new five-year contract last year, but while the prospect of leading Tottenham into the new stadium is enticing, the lack of spending in the summer by club chairman Daniel Levy has been frustrating. Pochettino has, nonetheless, kept Spurs in the title race and qualified through a difficult Champions League group, which included Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven.

Payday for Mourinho

Mourinho’s end was sealed in a comprehensive defeat to Liverpool in their last match, which left United eight points off fifth place, 11 from Champions League qualification and 19 points from top.

Mourinho, who will receive an eight-figure payoff, had insisted he was still able to steer them to Champions League qualification due to an easier fixture list over the festive period and in the second half of the season, but Woodward made the decision to sack him and informed him of it on Tuesday morning.

Many figures in football have been surprised United persisted this long with Mourinho. He won the Europa League and EFL Cup in his first season and second place in the Premier League last season was seen as a promising sign, but this campaign has been a catastrophe.

Pressure on Woodward

Mourinho has clashed with Woodward publicly about what he perceived to be a lack of backing in the transfer market, despite the club spending nearly £400m during the Portuguese’s two-and-a-half years in charge. His repeated public criticism of players — especially younger members of the squad — has also been a point of contention, as has the ostracisation of former world record signing Paul Pogba.

Pressure is also increasing on Woodward who, despite incredible commercial success, has overseen three managerial appointments — including David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal — who have been unable to replace Ferguson and allowed the club to fall well behind their rivals.

Man Utd statement “The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future. “A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager.”