Manchester United must convince Pochettino that he is their No 1 choice to be their next manager

Manchester United must convince Mauricio Pochettino that he is their No 1 choice to take over as manager at the end of the season.

Pochettino and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag are the leading contenders, while Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is among the other names being linked.

Sportsmail understands Pochettino would need to feel that he is top of the club’s list of candidates before agreeing to move to Old Trafford next season.

The Argentine’s time at Paris Saint-Germain is coming to an end following Wednesday’s capitulation against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Furious PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi is ready to sack the 50-year-old coach who said after the game: ‘The present is all I can deal with. As for the future, what will be will be.’

Pochettino will not be short of offers if he leaves PSG and wants assurances that United see him as first choice.

Pochettino’s PSG side capitulated dramatically against Real Madrid on Wednesday night

United were linked with Pochettino after sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, but it will be a simpler process if he is out of work and won’t involve having to pay compensation.

The former Tottenham boss is keen to return to England having lived in a Paris hotel for the last 14 months while his family have remained in London.

Yet Old Trafford sources confirmed that Ten Hag, 52, has emerged as a genuine rival for the job. 

Their 3-1 defeat transpired thanks to a stunning 17-minute hat-trick from Karim Benzema

Ajax will not stand in his way if he is offered the role, and Sportsmail revealed last week that he has started taking English lessons.

United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has not given up on getting the job – despite publicly playing down his interest – but that seems unlikely.

Uncertainty over who will be in charge next season is said to be having a negative effect on players. 

United host Tottenham on Saturday facing a desperate task to finish in the top four.

Ajax’s Erik ten Hag (left) has emerged as a genuine rival for the job, while United interim manager Ralf Rangnick (right) has not yet given up on taking on the role permanently

Cristiano Ronaldo, in particular, is believed to be puzzled that United chose to appoint an interim coach.

Ronaldo’s relationship with Rangnick is under scrutiny after he missed the Manchester derby with a hip injury and flew to Portugal amid speculation he would have been on the bench anyway.

Ronaldo, 37, still has to prove his fitness for Saturday’s game, and doubt is growing that he will be at United next season.