Rene Meulensteen believes Mauricio Pochettino could raid his former club Chelsea if he gets the Manchester United job.
Pochettino is believed to be certainly one of the names considered by United as they seek for Ruben Amorim’s long-term alternative.
Darren Fletcher was put in temporary charge of the side after Amorim’s 14-month reign got here to an end and oversaw a 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley and a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
United appointed Fletcher’s former teammate Michael Carrick as caretaker manager until the tip of the season and his time in charge couldn’t have gotten off to a greater start because the Red Devils beat arch-rivals Manchester City 2-0 on Sunday.
Carrick could force himself into contention for the everlasting job with a series of strong performances until the summer but is just not currently certainly one of the frontunners for the job.
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As an alternative, Crystal Palace’s departing manager Oliver Glasner, England boss Thomas Tuchel and USA head coach Pochettino have been heavily linked with the Old Trafford job.
Pochettino has been accountable for the USA national team since September 2024 but his contract expires after this summer’s World Cup.
Taking up at Manchester United subsequently stays a possibility and Meulensteen believes Pochettino could attempt to sign his former Chelsea player Cole Palmer if he ended up on the Theatre of Dreams.
Palmer, top-of-the-line players within the Premier League in recent seasons, grew up supporting the Red Devils but ended up at Man City before joining Chelsea in 2023.
‘Could Mauricio Pochettino persuade Cole Palmer to return to Manchester United? Provided that Chelsea can be willing to let him go,’ ex-Old Trafford coach Meulensteen, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson, told Casinostugan.
‘Palmer is a incredible player and I feel he would suit Manchester United very well and the way in which they needs to be playing because he’s a difference maker. That’s all the time what you wish.
‘You’d have to take into consideration how he’s going to slot in because on that right-hand side, where Cole is playing to return into the pocket, obviously you possibly can have Amad Diallo there too or Mbeumo. Bruno operates in the center.
‘Palmer was a boyhood United fan and it’s actually too strange for words that United never picked up on it and made sure that they sounded him out about his plans if he ever were to depart City. It’s very strange that it never happened, for my part.’
Appointing Pochettino has been endorsed by Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who named the ex-Chelsea bosses as certainly one of three managers he desires to take over at his former club.
‘I hope Michael [Carrick] does very well,’ Neville said on the Follow Football podcast. ‘We might be sat here at the tip of the season with the fans up, with the team fifth within the table and back within the Champions League spots, and we could all be getting swayed with it.
‘But there can’t be any consideration that Michael takes the job beyond the tip of this season, for the sake of Michael and the club, even when he wins each game.
‘Who can handle the media? Who can sort the dressing room out? Who can handle the owners? Who plays a form of football that fans will a minimum of enjoy watching? Who has Champions League experience? Who has big‑game experience?
‘The three that stand out are [Thomas] Tuchel, [Carlo] Ancelotti and [Mauricio] Pochettino. They may all be available after the World Cup.’
Following an enormous derby win over Manchester City, Manchester United’s next project is one other daunting clash away at Premier League leaders Arsenal.
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