Manchester United 'contact Mauricio Pochettino about replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford'

Manchester United have contacted Mauricio Pochettino about potentially replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the club's manager, according to reports.

The Red Devils were humbled 6-1 at home by Pochettino's former club Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday which has clouded Solskjaer's future at the club in doubt.

The Argentinian manager has been out of a job since being sacked by Spurs 11 months ago and is waiting for his next challenge in management.

And according to the Daily Star, senior figures at Old Trafford have contacted Pochettino's representatives and are asking whether he would be interested in the role.

The report says members of the United hierarchy want to see better results from Solskjaer and that chief executive Ed Woodward is reluctant to sack the Norwegian.

Therefore, the contact with Pochettino is only provisional in case they have to switch managers.

Pochettino took Spurs from top-half regulars in 2014 to Champions League finalists five years later.

In that period, Tottenham also moved stadiums while the manager helped to create a strong core in the playing squad that includes club captain Hugo Lloris, defender Toby Aldeweireld and star striker Harry Kane.

Though just five months after taking Spurs to the Champions League final, which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in June 2019, the Argentinian was relieved of his duties for a string of poor performances and was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach took Spurs from 14th position to a sixth-place by the end of the 2019-20 season and the club will compete in the Europa League group stages this month.

Questions are being asked about Solskjaer's competences as United manager despite a third-place finish in the Premier League last season.

However, Manchester United fans have also pointed the finger at other personnel at the club for their falling standards in recent weeks, which has seen them pick up just one win in their opening three matches of the Premier League season.

Chief executive Woodward's inability to bring in top transfer targets such as Jadon Sancho has been a concern for supporters, while regular defensive frailties from the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been pointed out by fans.