Manchester United is reportedly considering three top managers as potential replacements for Erik Ten Hag, should the Dutch manager depart Old Trafford this summer.
Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank, and England manager Gareth Southgate are among the coaches of interest to Ineos, although other managers and coaches are also being considered.
Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United exit undecided
While no decision has been made regarding Ten Hag’s future by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group, which now controls football operations at United, they are exploring options to assess the credentials and availability of potential successors, according to ESPN.
With discussions ongoing with Newcastle over a deal for sporting director Dan Ashworth to move to United and incoming chief executive Omar Berrada waiting to serve a period of gardening leave before starting work, the club is drawing up a contingency plan for Ten Hag’s possible exit. Ineos is determined to avoid being unprepared in a summer when other top clubs are already identifying and hiring new managers.
Ten Hag, who joined Manchester United from Ajax in June 2022, is under pressure to save his job, especially after recent losses in the Premier League. Despite this, United is aware that Ten Hag’s reputation remains high in Europe, and there is interest in him from Germany as well. While De Zerbi and Frank are being monitored closely, Southgate is considered an outsider for the managerial position at United.
Ten Hag’s future could still be secured if he can inspire the team to a successful end of the season, particularly with his support for young talents like Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Højlund. However, the cost of compensating Ten Hag and securing a new manager could be a challenge for United, which is currently navigating various uncertainties within the club.
