MANCHESTER UNITED icon Alex Ferguson has reportedly been desperate for the club to appoint Mauricio Pochettino since his Tottenham days.

SunSport understands that the Argentine tactician has come close to the the Old Trafford job on numerous occasions since a lunch with Sir Alex in 2016.

With Michael Carrick on the brink of being dismissed during the international break, Pochettino once again finds himself making headlines.

Journalist and author Melissa Reddy detailed how United tried and failed to land him three times despite Fergie’s recommendation.

She claims the club “chickened out” of negotiations with Daniel Levy while Poch was at Tottenham, lost out to Paris Saint-Germain with a second attempt and refused to be patient during Ralf Rangnick‘s interim spell in 2022, with Erik ten Hag arriving instead.

Reddy added: “At every turn, United were in desperate need for someone who was proven at implementing an identity in the PL, creating a culture of excellence, maximising the tools at his disposal, fostering a family environment and trusting in youth but they fluffed their lines to go for an easier option. Which ended up being expensive mistake after expensive mistake.

“Sir Alex Ferguson has wanted Pochettino to be the manager at Old Trafford stretching back to his Spurs days – something he has repeatedly told the Argentine and mentioned at the club.

“Imagine if they had empowered Poch to build sustainable success back then instead of a break-glass option now when the club are in all kinds of tatters, especially off the pitch (Glazer debt & INEOS horrid decision-making), which informs everything on it.”

Fergie, who shares a great deal of mutual respect with Poch, may finally about to get his wish.

SunSport exclusively revealed that Pochettino would be open to making a Premier League return with United.

The ex-Spurs and Chelsea chief’s odds tumbled from 25-1 to 2-1 second favourite after a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa saw United enter the international break in the relegation zone.

He agreed a new four-year deal after leading the USA to the World Cup last 16 on home soil, but admitted at the time that he may not finish the term.

He said: “Now we are thinking of spending four years with the USA but you can always break a contract, say you stop, and that’s it, you agree something.

“With a four-year contract, it’s different.

“We could lose Copa America or the Gold Cup, and they’re not happy with us, they can sack us, or we can say, ‘OK, it’s not in the way that we think’.”

The chance to rebuild things at Old Trafford could prove too good to turn down, especially after he spoke about the long-running links ahead of the World Cup.

Poch told Four Four Two: “United have always shown interest, but the ideal scenario to manage there has never quite materialised.”

Old Trafford chiefs Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada joined co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco with the managerial situation at the top of the agenda.

Fans are growing impatient with protests taking place during the clashes with Villa and Roma at Old Trafford.

All signs point to a new man in the dugout for the clash with bitter rivals Liverpool on November 22.