Pochettino must decide whether he wants to carry on with Spurs or start a new project with United in the summer

The only thing that can be said with complete certainty about Mauricio Pochettino as he contemplates Manchester United’s interest in appointing him as their next permanent manager, is that he will not leave Tottenham Hotspur lightly.

He likes to joke that he made the decision to leave Espanyol for the Southampton manager’s job six years ago while on the toilet, retreating to the smallest room in his Barcelona apartment to escape the pressure of intense discussions with his family and coaching staff. With the stakes even higher, he may be forced to take up permanent residency in the lavatory of his north London home over the next few months.

The Times reported Pochettino’s desire to be considered for the United job within hours of José