Manchester United battle with Real Madrid for Mauricio Pochettino as the manager prepares to leave PSG at the end of the season

Manchester United are reportedly in a bidding war to get Mauricio Pochettino from Paris Saint-Germain.

The Red Devils haven’t decided whether to keep interim manager Ralf Rangnick or go in a different way.

Pochettino, who was connected with the post when Ole Gunnar Solskjer was fired late last year, is one of the alternatives to Rangnick.

However, the Daily Mail reports that Manchester United may face competition from Real Madrid for Pochettino, who may be ‘available’ this summer.

Despite his club’s dominance in LaLiga, Carlo Ancelotti’s long-term future at the Bernabeu is being questioned.

Real’s players were booed by their own fans during Saturday’s 3-1 win over Alaves.

And Ancelotti’s future at Real could be determined by how well the team does in the Champions League.

Real is down 1-0 to PSG coming into the second leg of their Round of 16 showdown, and things aren’t looking good for the Italian.

Pochettino, whom Real tried to appoint in the summer, is an alternative for the Spanish giants if Ancelotti is fired.

Rekindling Real’s interest in Pochettino would be an unwelcome distraction from their search for a new manager.

Real’s management decision for next season will most certainly be influenced by the La Liga club’s season finale, particularly how they perform in the Champions League.

If Ancelotti leaves, president Florentino Perez is expected to renew his interest in Pochettino.

That scenario will obstruct United’s search for a new manager ahead of next season.

Pochettino, along with Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, is one of the leading candidates to succeed temporary manager Ralf Rangnick.

Pochettino is the preferred candidate among a group of current United players, as Sportsmail revealed earlier this month – but with Real poised to emerge as a rival for the South American, appointing the 49-year-old could become more difficult.

Intriguingly, if Real intensifies their pursuit of Pochettino, PSG forward Kylian Mbappe could play a role.

Pochettino and the France striker have formed a close bond in the French capital, and with Mbappe a top goal for Real ahead of next season, a successful capture of the talented 23-year-old might lead the Spanish club to speed up a move for the former Southampton boss.