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Mauricio Pochettino is the standout candidate to become Manchester United's next manager, and the club is biding its time in an attempt to land him.

That's the view of informed sources, who are convinced United's approach to replacing Jose Mourinho is a ploy to land the Tottenham Hotspur manager.

News of Mourinho's departure spread throughout the football world on Tuesday, but it also emerged the club is taking a specific view on how to move forward.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been named as caretaker manager until the end of the season, but United then plan to name a permanent boss in the summer—and with good reason.

According to sources, they feel it is impossible to land Pochettino, their No. 1 choice, at this moment in time because of the project he is the middle of, with Spurs moving to a new stadium and progressing in the UEFA Champions League.

But at the end of this season, there is a belief among United's power figures that he will be more willing to accept the role.

They have tried David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho on full-time deals—and next will go all out to get Pochettino. The terms of his contract mean it will cost around £34 million in compensation, but that will not deter them.