Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has backed Mauricio Pochettino to become the next permanent manager at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have named Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker boss until the end of the season but Neville thinks the Spurs head coach will be the club’s long-term target:

“You look at his performance levels and style of play, the way in which he carries himself at all times – publicly and in private – I have been fortunate enough to spend two or three days at Tottenham’s training ground. And for me, he just feels like the most ideal candidate.”

“There will be others who say ‘no’, but Man Utd have tried managers who have won European Cups, managers who have won multiple leagues, managers who have had that solid grounding in the Premier League.”

“My view is they need someone who meets the three key principles of that football club – the promotion of youth, entertaining football and to win football matches. So at this moment in time, I see him.”

Pochettino refused to talk about the United post in his pre-match press conference for this evening’s Carabao Cup clash against Arsenal.

His availability will be the most pressing question on most supporter’s minds. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will likely hold out for the highest compensation possible before the club could even speak to the Argentinian.

Persuading the former Southampton manager may, however, prove easier with Spurs’s new stadium likely to put a ceiling on his ambitions with his current employers.

The new White Hart Lane is expected to cost more than £1billion with transfer budgets likely to be curtailed to make up the shortfall.