19 Dec Why Man United target Pochettino should remain at Spurs

BBC sports broadcaster Jonny Gould says in-demand manager Mauricio Pochettino should stay at Tottenham Hotspur amid reported interest from Premier League giants Manchester United.

United are on the hunt for a new boss after sensationally sacking Jose Mourinho with the club languishing in 6th position, 11 points outside the top four and 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Pochettino has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Mourinho due to his footballing philosophy which includes a willingness to develop young players and provide them with first team opportunities.

Gould can’t see why the Argentine would leave Spurs at this point in time after guiding the north London club to Champions League football in the last two seasons.

“If they go with Pochettino, they would have to pay him a fortune,” he said on SEN Breakfast.

“Why on earth would he leave Tottenham?

“Because they are, at the moment, a footballing project on another level from United.

“Spurs are now replacing United as the perennial Champions League qualifier. United just aren’t there.

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Another name that has been linked with the United job is former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, and Gould believes the three-time Champions League winner would be the better alternative.

“Why would a Hispanic guy zip up the road from Tottenham to Manchester United? I do think Zidane is probably the better manager in terms of his world status,” Gould said.

“The fact that he doesn’t have the raffishness of (Carlo) Ancelotti, of (Guus) Hiddink, of Mourinho makes him a surprise candidate, but boy oh boy, he can hold a candle to all of them, including (Pep) Guardiola.

“If I was Manchester United, I would plump for the Frenchman.”

United are on the lookout for an interim manager until the end of the season with former fan favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer linked with the role along with current coach Michael Carrick and Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant Mike Phelan.

Listen to Jonny Gould's chat on SEN Breakfast with Sam Edmund and Simon O'Donnell in the player below