Man Utd players want Mauricio Pochettino but Ralf Rangnick has preferred successor in mind

Manchester United players are pushing for Mauricio Pochettino to be the club’s next permanent manager, according to reports.

However, interim boss Ralf Rangnick sees Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as the ideal candidate to succeed him in the summer once his time at the helm comes to an end.

Pochettino has long been held in high regard by the club’s hierarchy and United chiefs are confident they can prise him away from PSG at the end of the season.

According to The Sun, United’s players would fully support that move and now new chief executive Richard Arnold is in place they will intensify their pursuit of the former Tottenham boss.

United were linked with a move for the Argentine after giving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the boot last November but could not persuade PSG to do business given the Ligue 1 side’s failed attempts to lure Zinedine Zidane to the French capital mid-season.

Despite United players having an admiration for Pochettino and believing his Premier League experience is key to getting the club challenging for the title once again, the 49-year-old won’t be the only one on the club’s radar.

Rangnick, who will move into a consultancy role at the end of the campaign, is believed to favour a move for Ajax boss Ten Hag.

The Dutchman matches United’s key criteria for their next manager by blooding youth, playing attractive football and regularly challenging for silverware.

Having spent several months with the squad, Rangnick will be in a strong position to voice his opinion on what type of manager the club need going forward but that could clash with what United’s players want.

Securing Champions League football will also be key to luring either manager to Old Trafford and at present that is far from guaranteed.

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