Mauricio Pochettino could yet replace Erik ten Hag at Old TraffordCredit: Getty

Sir Jim Ratcliffe declined to give Ten Hag a vote of confidence on SkyCredit: PA

The 52-year-old Argentine was in a two-horse race with Ten Hag for the United job in April 2022, as he approached the exit door at Paris Saint-Germain.

United’s then kingmakers Richard Arnold and John Murtough are understood to have spoken to him then.

But were swayed by Ten Hag’s depth of knowledge of United and his ideas to turn things round.

The Dutchman did just that in his first season, finishing third and winning the Carabao Cup.

But things have gone into reverse in this campaign with an eighth-placed Premier League finish and group stage exit from the Champions League.

United still have this Saturday’s FA Cup Final to come, in a repeat of last year’s Wembley showpiece against neighbours Manchester City.

But even in the unlikely event of winning that, Ten Hag could still be out.

New United part owner Ratcliffe refused again last week in an interview with Sky to give Ten Hag a public vote of confidence.

He preferred instead to talk about the set-up at the club that has failed successive managers.

Pochettino would be a popular choice amongst fans for his exciting style of play that took Tottenham to the Champions League Final back in 2019, beating Ten Hag’s Ajax with an incredible comeback in the semi-final second leg in Amsterdam.

Meanwhile, two managers celebrating promotion to the Prem are rated contenders to succeed Poch at Stamford Bridge.

One of those, Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, has also been linked with the Old Trafford job.

The other is Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, whose future at the King Power was already far from certain.

Former Brighton chief Roberto De Zerbi and Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness are other names already being mentioned.

Girona boss and ex-Germany manager Hansi Flick might also be in the running.

Inevitably, ex-United and Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho has been talked of, but must be an extremely long shot.