Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Sports group are assessing three different managers as potential successors to Erik ten Hag should the Dutchman be sacked ahead of summer transfer window.
It sounds like Ten Hag’s future hangs in the balance and a lot will depend on whether United qualify for the Champions League. That has become an ever bigger task as United two league matches in as many weeks to slip further behind in the race for a top four finish.
According to ESPN, no decision has been made on Ten Hag’s future, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Sports group are exploring options to gauge the credentials and availability of possible replacements.
The managers suggested in the article include Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and England national team manager Gareth Southgate. It is believed that other managers and coaches are being considered.
Mark Ogden reports: “The drawing up of a contingency plan for the possible exit of Ten Hag is now being done, with Ineos determined to avoid being unprepared in a summer when Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are already in the process of identifying and hiring a new manager.”
A number of news outlets have suggested that De Zerbi is admired by Ineos, although I don’t think Southgate is a name that will excite fans.
There is still a large section of the fanbase that wants Ten Hag to remain in charge, including myself, but the media seems to think there will be a managerial change as part of their shake-up.
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
