France Football say Bayern Munich are hoping to bring in Mauricio Pochettino this summer, while Sport Bild claim Die Roten want Erik ten Hag.
Muaricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag are two of the hottest young coaches in Europe right now. Pochettino has made a name for himself over the past few years, transforming Tottenham Hotspurs into a genuine European contender, while everyone is well aware of Ajax’s spectacular Champions League exploits under ten Hag this season.
Unsurprisingly, both names have been linked with German giants Bayern Munich. According to various sources, Bayern will have all eyes on North London later today when Tottenham host Ajax in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal clash.
However, exactly who the Bavarians will be more keen on watching is still up for debate. According to France Football correspondent Philippe Auclair (via Sport Witness), Bayern “covet” Mauricio Pochettino. Auclair cites sources close to Uli Hoeness who have reportedly leaked the info.
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Sport Bild, on the other hand, believe Bayern’s eyes will be on the other side of the touch line. Their latest print issue claims the Bavarians have a keen interest in Erik ten Hag. CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is apparently a big fan of the club’s former second team manager, especially his propensity to rotate his starting lineup very little.
Auclair’s report on Pochettino lines up with claims made by Raphael Honigstein and Guillem Balague a few weeks ago. Both journalist indicated that Bayern have a strong interest in the Argentinian, with Honigstein suggesting Pochettino could be more tempted by a move to Munich now that Real Madrid and Manchester United are out of the question.
As for ten Hag, it’d be more surprising if Bayern were not linked with the Dutch manager than it is that they are. The success he’s had with a young Ajax side, and the fact that he used to coach Bayern’s second team, mean the connection is all too easy to make.
Despite these reports, Uli Hoeness has been adamant in his backing of Niko Kovac over recent weeks. There is still a few weeks left in the 2018-19 season, however, and how Bayern performs over the next four matches could have serious implications on the Croatian’s future.
Kovac perhaps deserves more time to be fairly judged in Bavaria, but time is never a guarantee when managing a club the size of Bayern Munich. If the board ultimately decides to move on from Kovac, both Pochettino and ten Hag would make great options. However, they should persist with the Croat unless something drastic happens between now and the end of the season.