Manchester United are looking for a long-term successor to Jose Mourinho just in case the Portuguese manager left the club in the near future and have finally lined up a replacement. According to recent reports coming out of Manchester, the Red Devils are planning for a long-term replacement for their Portuguese boss despite Mourinho signing a new contract last week. The Manchester outfit still considers Mauricio Pochettino a long-term managerial target, despite handing Jose Mourinho a new contract extension to prolong his stay at Old Trafford. The club’s hierarchy has been long-admirers of the Spurs manager, who is seen as a perfect candidate to succeed Mourinho.
It is believed that the nature of the north Londoners’ supremely dominant display versus United at the Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night will only have intensified the belief within the club that the Argentinian boss is one of the most impressive coaches in world football at the moment. While there are no intentions to push for Mourinho’s departure from Old Trafford, the move to secure his future for a further year while only midway through his contract can serve as evidence of the fact that Pochettino is still one of their leading candidates to the club’s long-term planning.
It is being reported that the arrivals of Louis van Gaal and Mourinho was more of a reaction out of panic than a well thought out decision. The appointment of Van Gaal represented a completely different strategy by the Red Devils following David Moyes’ term at the club, who was thought to be capable of building a legacy in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Mourinho was appointed to put United back into the map following the Dutch manager’s reign and some reports claimed that the appointment of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City was also in their thought process. The Special One has been successful in winning two major trophies in his first season, and the progress under the Portuguese manager in this campaign has led to Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward acting quickly to tie him up on a new deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2020 with the option of a further year.
However, it can be noted that the extension was just for a year when the expectation was that the club would offer him a 2-year extension. Hence, it gives the Red Devils some breathing room to weigh their options just in case Pochettino looks for a move out of north London. Some sources have also suggested that Max Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti are also being considered although Pochettino is currently top of the club’s wish-list.
It remains to be seen whether United are successful in luring the Argentine manager to Old Trafford if they decide to part ways with Mourinho in the near future.
