Manchester United will have to pay Tottenham £34 million in compensation to hire Mauricio Pochettino

Pochettino signed a new five-year contract at Spurs earlier this year which doesn’t include a release clause meaning the only way United are able to sign the Argentinian is to buy him out of his current contract

Manchester United will have to pay Tottenham pay £34 million in compensation if they wish to hire Mauricio Pochettino at the end of this season.

Pochettino signed a new five-year contract at Spurs earlier this year which doesn’t include a release clause meaning the only way United can sign the Argentinian is to buy him out of his current contract worth £8.5m per year, according to The Times.

Real Madrid reportedly made Pochettino their preferred candidate after sacking Julen Lopetegui at the end of October, but all approaches by the Spanish giants were swiftly rebuffed by Spurs.

Pochettino refused to dismiss speculation that he could be interested in the United role, which he's long believed to have coveted, but has a very close relationship with Spurs' Daniel Levy and is reluctant to leave at a crucial time when the club will begin their first season at the new stadium.

Pochettino also enjoys working with a youthful squad at Spurs, despite being agitated at the club's inability to make any signings in the previous window, whereas at United he would be plunged into a mire of egos and player power.

Holding a press conference earlier today, previewing Spurs’ Carabao Cup fixture against Arsenal on Wednesday evening, Pochettino insisted that he was focused on Tottenham, but notable stopped short of dismissing the possibility of one day moving on.

“I think after nearly five years there are a lot of rumours that have happened in my position here, as manager of Tottenham,” said Pochettino, ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal, live on Sky Sports.

“I cannot answer this type of question. These type of rumours happen in this business, in football.

Jose Mourinho leaves the Lowry Hotel after being sacked as Manchester United manager (Reuters)

“I always respect the opinion of everyone, whether people praise me, whether people do not agree with me, whether people say different things. The business we know very well.

“A lot of rumours happen but it is not my business what happened at another club. I am so focused in trying to deliver my best job at this football club.

“We have ahead of us a very busy run of fixtures, tomorrow we play another derby.

“It is so important for us – the quarter-final of the cup and I think everyone understand I am focused on tomorrow and doing my best job.”