Jermaine Jenas has claimed the club’s hierarchy were keen to poach the Argentine from Tottenham before appointing the former Chelsea manager

Mauricio Pochettino was Manchester United’s first choice for their managerial vacancy before Jose Mourinho was appointed, it has been claimed.

Mourinho was confirmed as Louis van Gaal’s replacement in July following months of intense speculation, but former Spurs player Jermaine Jenas insists it was Pochettino who the United hierarchy most coveted.

“If Pochettino would’ve been available he was Manchester United’s first choice, 100 per cent,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I think they would’ve taken him over Mourinho all day long.”

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Tottenham face a battle to replicate last season’s exploits, which saw a late-season collapse surrender second place to rivals Arsenal, but Jenas is confident Pochettino is the man to bring success to White Hart Lane.

He added: “The beauty with Pochettino is that Spurs are up to speed already. The players that are there have gone into training on the first day of pre-season and know exactly what he demands.”