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'He would have taken Man Utd job': Claim emerges over boss Paul Pogba 'would have loved'
RICHARD KEYS claims Laurent Blanc would have taken the Manchester United job until the end of the season.
Man United: Pochettino would be good replacement says Castles
The former France and PSG boss, who spent two years at Manchester United as a player, is current without a job.
His record is an impressive one - winning the treble with PSG in back-to-back seasons where which he was crowned Ligue 1 Manager of the Year twice.
Former Sky Sports host Keys has spoken to sources close to the Frenchman that have indicated their man was willing to take charge at Old Trafford.
Instead, United appointed Ole Gunnar Solksjaer on Tuesday with Mauricio Pochettino the club's No.1 target in the summer.
"If I knew I’d got Pochettino in the bag and was simply waiting I'd have appointed Laurent Blanc," he wrote in his personal blog.
"He’d have taken it. I’ve heard from sources that have checked.
"He’s ‘one of United’s own’, so that the emotion covered. He’s hugely experienced. He’s a winner.
"He’s a modern coach, with all the same beliefs about playing the way United used to. His Paris teams were a joy to watch, but they also had muscle.
"He knows the Premier League and he knows all about PSG. How useful might that have been at the next round of the Champions League?
"He’s also someone Pogba would’ve loved to have played for."
As for Solksjaer, Keys believes he's the wrong man for the job.
"What on earth is going on at Manchester United? Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer. Really?" he wrote.
"How many more times can Ed Woodward get it wrong?
"I don’t know Ole. I’m told he’s a lovely guy. He’s a legend at United that’s for sure - but what else about the former Molde manager, who had a disastrous spell in charge of Cardiff, qualifies him to take over from Mourinho?
"The answer is - nothing. Absolutely nothing."