Mauricio Pochettino insists he’s ‘so happy in Paris’ but ‘things happen and it’s not my responsibility’ as Paris Saint-Germain boss continues to be linked to Manchester United

Mauricio Pochettino has commented on intense speculation linking him with the Manchester United job for the first time, saying: ‘I am so happy in Paris’.

talkSPORT sources understand that Pochettino is the leading candidate to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United, with Sir Alex Ferguson pushing for the move.

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The former Tottenham and Southampton boss has long been linked with Old Trafford, and multiple reports claim he would be open to a move now, despite currently being employed by Paris Saint Germain.

Pochettino has moved ahead of the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Brendan Rodgers and Erik ten Hag as the bookies’ favourite for the job, but he’s now insisted his focus is elsewhere.

“I am focused on football,” he said ahead of PSG's Champions League tie with Manchester City on Wednesday.

“I am not a kid, I am not a child. I spend my whole life playing football. We are in a business that the rumours are there, I understand that. 

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“That is the world that we live in. I am so happy at Paris Saint-Germain. We are so focused on trying to get the best results that we can.”

“I'm happy in Paris. I know the city well both as a player and a coach, I have always lived this type of situation. Things happen and it's not my responsibility. What I'm going to say if you ask me is that I'm happy in Paris.”

Pochettino was named PSG boss back on January 2, and has since been in place for one of the most blockbuster transfer windows in football history.

Yet despite the arrivals of the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, the Argentine appears keen on an Old Trafford switch, with Ferguson a huge factor.

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Pochettino once said he remembered every word of a lunch with Ferguson in 2016, with a colleague remarking it looked like 'hero worshiping' in a photo taken of the pair.

The 49-year-old was asked about his admiration for Ferguson and United, but dismissed being drawn into further comment

"We cannot talk about that," he explained. "I think with in respect to my club Paris Saint-Germain and another club.

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"I need to be focused on Paris Saint-Germain. What another club is doing is not my business. I will not make that mistake at all.

"Everything I say, that was in the past while at Espanyol. My dream was to meet [Sir Alex] Ferguson. Anything I say now is going to be misunderstood and out of context.

"I was a player in Paris Saint-Germain. I love the club. I love the fans. It's a fantastic time to be in the club."