Pochettino demands Chelsea ‘reunion’ with Man Utd target; ‘wants deal agreed’ immediately

According to reports, Chelsea-bound Mauricio Pochettino is eyeing a ‘reunion’ with Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino is expected to be announced as Chelsea’s new permanent manager in the coming weeks. They have been searching for Graham Potter’s replacement since the start of last month.

The former Spurs head coach has been out of work since leaving PSG last summer and he has reportedly edged out the likes of Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann to be chosen for the top job at Stamford Bridge.

Football Insider are reporting that ‘Pochettino is pushing to hire Mitchell before his appointment at Stamford Bridge is finalised’ and he ‘wants the deal agreed’ as soon as possible.

Mitchell is a renowned sporting director and he has been with Monaco since 2020. He has previously held similar roles at Southampton, Tottenham and RB Leipzig. He confirmed earlier this year that he will be leaving the Ligue 1 outfit at the end of this season.

“It was a very difficult decision,” Mitchell told French newspaper Nice-Matin. “I loved my experience at this club. I have always felt a lot of support from president Dmitry Rybolovlev. We had several discussions about my mission, about the possibility of changing roles within the club, of extending my contract.

“I am very grateful to the president for trusting me. We have built a relationship based on transparency and honesty. But I have spent a lot of time away from home and my loved ones in recent years. I feel that the mission I had, which was to rebuild the sports project, has been fulfilled.”

Mitchell and Pochettino previously worked together while they were at Southampton. The report from Football Insider adds.

‘The Argentine coach is pushing the Chelsea board to secure him a top-class backroom team and management setup that gives him the best chance of succeeding.

‘Pochettino is eager to add Mitchell to his backroom staff at Stamford Bridge as he believes he can offer something different to Chelsea’s existing recruitment team.

‘It is understood that Mitchell is excited by a potential Premier League return and a reunion with Pochettino at an elite club.’

‘Chelsea hierarchy are working behind the scenes to create a position for Mitchell so that he can work alongside Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.’

United could have new owners before next season, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe among the contenders in the running to oust the Glazer family.

Back in March, it was reported by The Independent that Mitchell has been ‘earmarked for a role in any INEOS football structure at Manchester United, should the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led consortium buy the club’.