Mauricio Pochettino could link up with Harry Maguire at Manchester United after failing in his pursuit to sign the centre-back when he was in charge of Tottenham.

Michael Carrick is on the brink, and Mauricio Pochettino is edging closer to becoming Manchester United’s head coach. This news is developing quickly, even though the current head coach has yet to be informed of his dismissal.

Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann were linked with the job, but the USMNT boss has leapfrogged both to become the favourite to take charge at Old Trafford. Pochettino has been linked with the United job on multiple occasions, but a move never materialised.

Moreover, Pochettino could reunite with Luke Shaw, whom he managed at Southampton. He has also been a long-term admirer of one of United’s most experienced players.

Mauricio Pochettino took a liking to Harry Maguire earlier in his career

With Pochettino quickly becoming the favourite to succeed Carrick, with a willingness to leave his USMNT position, it’s only right that we dig deeper into any connections he has with the current squad.

We already know that Shaw enjoyed playing under Pochettino at Southampton, before both of them left St Mary’s during the same summer. Pochettino took over at Tottenham and the left-back signed for United.

However, in 2020, former Tottenham full-back Danny Rose revealed that Pochettino ‘took a liking’ to Harry Maguire earlier in his career. The 33-year-old centre-back enjoyed spells at Leicester City, Hull City and Sheffield United before his £80m move to Old Trafford.

Rose claims Pochettino was ‘all over’ Maguire during his time at Hull. Speaking on The Lockdown Tactics podcast, he said: “I remember we played Hull at White Hart Lane [in December 2016] and we won 3-0.

“Mauricio was manager, and the gaffer was all over Harry [Maguire]. I think they [Tottenham] were in for him. Once Poch took a liking to him, I started to notice him straightaway after that.”

Since then, Maguire was stripped of the captaincy after a difficult period at United. His reputation has since risen, but his time at the club may be coming to an end after signing a one-year deal in the summer.

Maguire isn’t getting any younger and has been part of a terrible defence this season. He needs to step up, as do his partners at the back regardless of who is stood on the touchline.