Manchester United may reportedly revisit discussions with a former managerial candidate if they choose to part ways with Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman’s position at the club has become increasingly unstable following a string of disappointing performances.
The most recent setback came last Sunday when United suffered a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford, deepening the sense of crisis at the club. Further pressure mounted after United let a two-goal lead slip in their Europa League encounter with Porto, managing only to draw 3-3 thanks to a late equalizer by Harry Maguire.
According to a report by The Athletic, despite these disappointing results, Manchester United is still taking a “long-term view” of Ten Hag’s role. This suggests that even if the team suffers a loss in their upcoming match against Aston Villa, Ten Hag might not be immediately dismissed.
However, the report adds that minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, along with INEOS, had already initiated talks with several managerial prospects over the summer when Ten Hag’s future was being evaluated. Although Ten Hag signed a contract extension after United’s FA Cup victory, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his tenure has reignited speculation about potential replacements.
Among the managers approached during the summer was Thomas Tuchel, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach. Tuchel reportedly turned down the opportunity due to concerns about Manchester United’s internal structure. Now, the club could reignite discussions with him if they opt to make a managerial change. Tuchel, currently without a club, is seen as a highly experienced and available option.
However, Tuchel is not the only candidate under consideration. Reports from i suggest that Ratcliffe also has a preference for Graham Potter, the former Brighton and Chelsea manager, or England national team coach Gareth Southgate. Nevertheless, any decision on the managerial situation would ultimately lie with Manchester United’s leadership team.
Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri has added that Manchester United recently reached out to Simone Inzaghi, the current Inter Milan manager. Inzaghi, however, reportedly declined the approach, preferring to stay with the Serie A club where he has found success.
Another name that has surfaced in connection with the job is Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager. It’s believed that Frank had talks with United before last season’s FA Cup final, where United managed a surprise win over rivals Manchester City.
Despite the ongoing speculation regarding these potential candidates, bookmakers currently favor Ruud van Nistelrooy as the frontrunner to take over. Van Nistelrooy, a former Manchester United striker, joined the club as an assistant coach over the summer after a successful stint at PSV Eindhoven, where he won two trophies. If Ten Hag does exit the club, Van Nistelrooy could be seen as a logical, in-house successor, given his strong ties to United and his managerial experience at PSV.
In the end, the decision regarding Ten Hag’s future will be a critical one, as the club looks to stabilize amid the growing uncertainty.
