Pochettino set to become new PSG manager

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is the main contender to take over at Paris St-Germain (PSG) after Thomas Tuchel was sacked.

It is understood PSG’s players have been told that the Argentine, 48, will be joining the club.

Talks between PSG and Pochettino started at least two weeks ago.

Tuchel, 47, was sacked hours after he took charge of Wednesday’s 4-0 win against Strasbourg.

The French club are yet to confirm the German’s dismissal.

Tuchel became the Ligue 1 side’s boss in June 2018, winning two league titles, the French Cup and French League Cup.

They also reached the Champions League final for the first time last season, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich.

Former Borussia Dortmund coach Tuchel’s contract was set to expire at the end of this season.

He joined the Parisian club in May 2018 on an initial two-year contract after replacing Spaniard Unai Emery, agreeing a one-year extension in May 2019.

PSG are currently third in Ligue 1, a point behind leaders Lyon, while they are also through to the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will face Barcelona.

Wednesday’s victory over Strasbourg moved the reigning champions to within a point of both Lyon and second-placed Lille as the Ligue 1 season heads into a two-week winter break.

Pochettino, who led Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019 where they lost to Liverpool, has been linked regularly with the PSG job in recent months.

He played for PSG between 2001 and 2003, and has been without a job since leaving Spurs in November 2019.

The former Southampton boss joined Spurs in 2014 and guided them to the League Cup final in his first full season while two third-placed finishes sandwiched a runners-up spot in the Premier League in 2017.

PSG have been linked with a January loan move for Tottenham’s Dele Alli, who made his Premier League debut under Pochettino.

The 48-year-old Argentine, who played for PSG between 2001 and 2003, has been without a job since leaving Spurs in November 2019.

In 2016 Pochettino said: “I have always said that one day it would be a pleasure to manage a big club like Paris, a dream.

“I try to watch all of their games, especially in the Champions League and sometimes I speak with [Paris Saint-Germain assistant coach] Jean-Louis Gasset.”

Tuchel has found himself in hot water with the PSG hierarchy in recent weeks after claiming he felt more like “a sports politician or sports minister than a coach”.

The German attempted to defuse the situation last night, saying: “I didn’t say it’s more about politics than sport, nor that I lost the fun of training. This is not true.. It is possible they translated incorrectly.

“Watch the video interview. I just said that PSG are unique and that it’s a big challenge for me. It’s always been like that.

“I like this challenge and nothing has changed.”

Reports in France suggest Pochettino could be in place at PSG before they return to action against St. Etienne on January 6.