Sheffield United’s draw at Tottenham Hotspur has put their manager, Mauricio Pochettino, under pressure of the sack.
The Telegraph reports that defeat for Spurs in their first game after the international break could seal Pochettino’s fate.
Failure to beat the Blades at home last weekend left Tottenham without a win in five Premier League matches. They are 14th in the table after 12 games and 11 points off fourth-placed Manchester City and the Champions League places.
They face West Ham United next; who are also enduring a poor run having not won in the league since September. The Hammers gave their boss, Manuel Pellegrini, a vote of confidence this week.
Pochettino’s side have not won away in the top tier of English football since January, when they beat Fulham. A loss to their London rivals would raise serious questions about the Argentine’s management.
The leading contenders to replace Pochettino are apparently Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe, RB Leipzig chief Julian Nagelsmann, or England manager Gareth Southgate.
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However, chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to pay the compensation the 47-year-old would be due. Having signed an £8.5m-a-year contract in May, Pochettino would receive £12.5m if Levy sacked him now.
If he were to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Manchester United and Real Madrid are still understood to be very interested in the South American.
How Blades played a part in Pochettino sack rumours
Chris Wilder’s side were superb in North London and more than worthy of their point. Heung-min Son gave the hosts the lead, but the Blades came back fighting.
They thought they had equalised through David McGoldrick, only for VAR to rule it out in a controversial decision. Shortly afterwards George Baldock did put the South Yorkshire team level.
Wilder himself is a big fan of Pochettino, previously describing the Spurs boss as his “favourite manager in the Premier League.”