Manchester United may still be reeling from their harrowing 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on May 5 night, but the conversation has quickly switched to the hunt for a new manager who might replace Erik ten Hag.
The thrashing by Palace has piled immense pressure on the Dutch boss, with widespread speculation surrounding his job now prevalent.
With Erik ten Hag enduring a challenging season at United marked by the highest number of defeats since 1977-78 (18) and the most goals conceded since 1976-77 (55), the question of who will undertake the squad rebuild during the transfer window.
United is yet to make a final decision on Ten Hag’s future but Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel have emerged as frontrunners with reports suggesting that talks have commenced regarding their move to Old Trafford.
Chelsea’s former manager Graham Potter and Zinedine Zidane are also likely to be considered.
Managers Likely to Replace Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United
Gareth Southgate
England manager Gareth Southgate is in the frame to take over at Manchester United this summer if INEOS decide to part ways with Erik ten Hag, but no decision has been taken so far on the future of the Dutchman.
The Three Lions Boss has admirers within INEOS, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe impressed with the work he has done with England.
Other figures at INEOS including founder Sir Dave Brailsford and incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth have a good relationship with Southgate and he remains a potential candidate for the job should the Ten Hag depart.
But any route to appointing Southgate would be difficult as he is tied up with England until the end of the European Championship in Germany, which runs from June 14 with the final taking place on July 14.
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Southgate is unlikely to consider destabilizing the build-up to the tournament when England have such a strong chance of winning their first major trophy since 1966 this summer.
A decision to appoint Southgate, however, would require INEOS to wait until mid-July for a decision, which they may not be willing to do.
With Ashworth coming in as sporting director and Omar Berrada as chief executive, they will want the structure confirmed as early as possible this summer.
Southgate guided England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 as well as their first major final since 1966 with a runner-up finish at Euro 2020.
Thomas Tuchel
Former Chelsea manager is reportedly very keen to return to England when he leaves Bayern Munich in the coming weeks after a disappointing season with the German giants.
Tuchel is among the leading candidates in the eyes of numerous senior figures at new co-owners INEOS.
His previous fallouts with sporting directors at PSG and Chelsea may make some understandably wary but the German’s wealth of experience and proven track record in England could make it a risk worth taking.
The German guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021, beating rivals Manchester City in the final in Porto.
He claimed three trophies in 20 months at the club, including the Super Cup and Club World Cup.
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Ten Hag could even go the other way, with the Bavarians understood to be interested in giving the Dutchman another chance.
Graham Potter
Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter also has admirers within INEOS and having worked with Ashworth in Brighton.
Ashworth remains a staunch Potter advocate after their stint at Brighton.
Potter has kept a low profile since leaving the Blues in April last year and is understood to be “waiting for the right role for him”.
Not everyone at United is convinced that Potter has the credentials, given his time at Chelsea but like recent events at Old Trafford, Chelsea have been somewhat of a basket case of late and with the right structure in place.
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane won three consecutive Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles during his two spells with Real Madrid and has previously suggested he would relish a chance to manage the Premier League.
Reports linking him with a move to Bayern Munich have since cooled and Manchester United may well represent one of the few attractive propositions available to Zidane should he consider a return to coaching duties this summer.
Ten Hag’s Fate is on the FA Cup Final
However, the decision on who will guide Manchester United will depend on how Ten Hag finishes the season, with no decision made on his future. He has a year remaining on his contract and has had a difficult second season at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman will not be sacked before the FA Cup final clash with Manchester City at least according to reports in England despite the tough fixtures which include a home match against title-chasing Arsenal.
Ten Hag’s only saving grace is the prospect of the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Confidence of success is thin on the ground for that game, however considering the club’s recent form and injuries plaguing the team.
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