Man Utd players want Mauricio Pochettino to take over as boss in summer… but Ralf Rangnick prefers Ajax’s Erik ten Hag

MANCHESTER UNITED stars want Mauricio Pochettino to take over in the summer.

The Red Devils are set to step up their search for a permanent boss now new chief executive Richard Arnold is in place.

And the word from the dressing room is that they want former Tottenham chief Poch to get the nod.

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag will also be closely looked at by United’s hierarchy in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile — as SunSport reported last month — interim boss Ralf Rangnick still has an opportunity to convince the board he is the man for the long term.

However the fact that current Paris Saint-Germain coach Pochettino has worked in the Premier League before is seen as a major positive by the current squad.

The 49-year-old’s job in the French capital is believed to be under threat this summer.

And the end could come sooner if his team lose their Champions League crunch against Real Madrid.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

The Spanish giants are believed to have Pochettino on their own list of possible successors to Carlo Ancelotti.

And United would have to move decisively to get their man.

Rangnick – who is due to move into a consultancy role at Old Trafford in the summer – is believed to favour a move for Ten Hag.

United were expected to make their move for Poch after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was given the boot in late November.

However PSG were not willing to release him as they could not persuade their chosen successor Zinedine Zidane to join them mid-season.

⚽ Read our Transfer News Live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals