It has been one of the biggest debates since Jose Mourinho left Old Trafford 15 months ago...
Will Mauricio Pochettino one day be Manchester United manager?
The Argentinian remains without a club since leaving Tottenham in November and his availability has seen him even more strongly linked with the United hot seat on a regular basis.
With question marks regularly raised as the Red Devils continue to blow hot and cold under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Sky Bet make Pochettino odds-on to become the club's next permanent manager.
It remains to been seen how long Solskjaer will be given in the job, but it has been reported that Pochettino would love the chance to manage the club.
He recently gave some fans hope after admitting his desire to remain in England's top flight.
"To be honest, I would love to work in the Premier League," he told Sky Sports' In The Pink podcast, in quotes carried by The Mirror.
"It's going to be difficult, I know, and for now it's a moment to wait and we'll see what happens.
"It's a moment of recovery, to think about yourself a little bit, and to be ready because in football always something can happen and you need to be ready.
"I'm ready and waiting for a new challenge. I have the belief and confidence that the next challenge will be fantastic.”
🕵️♂️ Mauricio Pochettino is at Brentford v Leeds this evening.
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) February 11, 2020
🇦🇷 The former Spurs boss is a disciple of Marcelo Bielsa and once said he 'is like my second father'.#LUFC #BreLee pic.twitter.com/VIAuWfm411
He has also been linked to Bayern Munich, PSG and a whole host of top clubs across the continent, but Pochettino added: "If we move to Europe, we are going to miss England."
The speculation was only fuelled on Tuesday as the 47-year-old was spotted at Brentford's 1-1 draw with Leeds in the Sky Bet Championship.
Pochettino is close to compatriot and Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, but he was spotted arriving at Griffin Park closely followed by Neil Ashton, the former journalist now working as a PR advisor for Man United.
Fans could not help but put two and two together and ponder whether it is a case of when, rather than if...
Video: Pochettino spotted at Brentford v Leeds
👋 Mauricio Pochettino arrives at Griffin Park...
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) February 11, 2020
🤔 ...closely followed by Manchester United's newly-hired PR adviser Neil Ashton.
😈 Some would say coincidence, Red Devils fans would say otherwise...
👀 #MUFC #BreLee pic.twitter.com/UuurIKWDYs
Manchester United fans react...
Mauricio Pochettino spotted with Neil Ashton (Ed Woodward’s newly hired PR man) at Brentford vs Leeds tonight. 👀 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/GHg6eVcHK5
— 🔰UtdXclusive🔰 (@UtdXclusive) February 11, 2020
Looks like we’re getting Poch in the summer.
— MUFC (@ZerkkEU) February 11, 2020
I hope all these rumours about pochettino is not to giddy us fans to renew the season ticket #mufc
— Sean (@blaxeey) February 11, 2020
Mauricio Pochettino ticks [almost] every box for #mufc:
— ً (@utdrobbo) February 11, 2020
✅Relatively young manager
✅Consistent & constant rebuilder
✅Elite & adaptive tactician
✅Excellent man manager
✅Attacking football philosophy
✅Committed to youth progression
❌Trophy hauler pic.twitter.com/lXrCuy0gbj
Whether you believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is or isn’t good enough, Mauricio Pochettino has been #mufc’s reported number one target for many years.
— ً (@utdrobbo) February 11, 2020
The fact he’s currently available to take over a young, mailable squad could be too good to miss.
We don't need poch because he will fail and be abused by our stupid fan base like every other manager after fergie
— butlerryan2146 (@butlerryan21461) February 11, 2020
Poch isn’t going to win us titles right away but he would make us better and more challenging especially when he’s backed when the transfer window opens . He’s better than what we’ve got and anyone who knows football knows this
— Daniel Nastals (@NastykalDenasty) February 11, 2020
Bring him in shift OGS upstairs with phelan! Let the new dynasty begin!
— X Interiors (@xinteriorsltd) February 11, 2020
Neil Ashton, Ed Woodwards PR guy and Pochettino, a manager United and Ferguson has admired for a long time, he's out of a job too. Probably a coincidence maybe but something fish here. Time will tell.
— Yomi Borokini 🇳🇬🇺🇸™️ (@_YOMZY) February 11, 2020
If poch being hired. Please let ole stay behind
— Butterscotch 🔱 (@syahrizaaaaaa) February 11, 2020
Neil Ashton alongside Pochettino!! Rumors of Poch interested in #MUFC job! Ashton is Ed’s PR man ! Makes you think pic.twitter.com/uqa807aySL
— Fred (@FredyTheRed) February 11, 2020
I think its just a question of when rather than if
— Stephen Norris (@SNorris007) February 11, 2020
Next permanent Manchester United odds (via Sky Bet)
Mauricio Pochettino - 2/5
Max Allegri - 5/1
Laurent Blanc - 14/1
Brendan Rodgers - 16/1
Odds correct as of 2150 GMT on 11/02/20
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