Mauricio Pochettino could deny Tottenham the opportunity to sign two of their January targets after taking charge of Man United.
Pochettino has officially been confirmed as Man Utd’s new head coach, and his appointment has garnered a mixed reaction from the Tottenham fan base.
The move is certainly not as painful as the time he joined Chelsea in 2023, which some Spurs supporters saw as a betrayal.
While the majority of the Tottenham fan base appeared to have moved on from the Pochettino era, some are coming to realise that a reunion, which always seemed destined between the Argentine and the North London club, may now never materialise.
While Spurs fans can make peace with that, it has now emerged that the 54-year-old’s arrival at Old Trafford may have a more immediate impact on the Lilywhites.
Tottenham striker target Folarin Balogun tempted to join Mauricio Pochettino at Man Utd
It was widely reported in the summer that Spurs had held talks with Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, and some sources have indicated over recent days that the American striker continues to be on Tottenham’s wishlist for January.
TEAMtalk have now revealed that Monaco’s financial position is likely to force them into a sale of the 25-year-old in the upcoming transfer window.
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However, there is one problem for the Lilywhites: the striker has been seen as an ‘attractive option’ by Man Utd’s recruitment team even before Pochettino’s arrival.
It is suggested that the Argentine would be keen on uniting with Balogun, having got the best out of him with the United States national team.
The report says that Pochettino’s arrival in Manchester has given a ‘significant boost’ to their pursuit of the Arsenal academy graduate, who is now looking more favourably towards a move to Old Trafford.
Balogun’s representatives have informed United that the former Spurs boss’ arrival has made the move ‘more appealing’, with the striker’s camp now actively exploring the possibility.
The player is ‘increasingly receptive’ to the prospect of joining the side currently sitting in the relegation zone, with the Monaco man thought to be keen on returning to the Premier League.
Man Utd could overtake Spurs in Alex Freeman pursuit as Pochettino handed recruitment power
Balogun is not the only USA international on the Lilywhites’ radar, with reports over recent weeks indicating that Tottenham were battling Man Utd for Villarreal right-back Alex Freeman.
TEAMtalk say that Freeman, who United have been keeping close tabs on over recent months, is also ‘highly regarded’ by Pochettino.
The 22-year-old has made a ‘significant impression’ on his former national team boss, who was the man who first drafted him into the United States setup ahead of the World Cup.
The right-back is a player of ‘particular interest’ to Pochettino, who is set to have ‘major input into recruitment’ at Old Trafford, much more so than some of his predecessors.
The former Tottenham boss’ arrival at Old Trafford may thus cause a recalibration in Spurs’ transfer plans ahead of January.