TOP OF THE POCH! Man Utd ready to spend BIG in January window with new manager Pochettino leading and targets being drawn up

Mauricio Pochettino will be backed in January with MAJOR transfer funds.

Manchester United are ready to dip into the market to strengthen their squad with a top defender the No1 priority. And Pochettino will get a say on targets as part of United’s vision for success with their new manager who is joining on a two-and-a-half year contract.

United have been reluctant to do business in the winter window but there is an acceptance that they need reinforcements in defence. They are also likely to look at a forward - Como’s Argentina star Nico Paz has also been linked - but a big-name striker is more likely for the summer.

Benjamin Sesko has been struggling with injury but it is in defence where there is a chronic problem as they failed to land a left back to provide back-up for Luke Shaw.

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United have spent big in the last two windows as they targeted forwards in 2025 with Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha all arriving.

They signed midfielders last summer with Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans all arriving for big money but have had mixed results.

United wanted to look at next summer for major defensive reinforcements but the squad appears to have gone backwards as they find themselves languishing in the relegation zone.

That will bring forward the plan for a defender to arrive in January to bolster the squad and Pochettino will have a say on targets after previous criticism about a lack of joined up thinking on transfers.

Pochettino is certain to have his own targets and enjoys developing and working with young and homegrown players. He is also on record about his admiration for Marcus Rashford in the past so it could be an exciting time for him.

Pochettino was emotional at a press conference in the United States farewell press conference ahead of their two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarter-final against Haiti.

The former Spurs and Chelsea boss will then jet across to England next week to help prepare for his first game in charge at Liverpool next Sunday.