Next Man Utd manager: Chelsea flop the red-hot favourite to replace Ten Hag

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 17 Apr 2024 12:11 BST
3 min read

Erik ten Hag sacked, Man Utd — © ProShots

Graham Potter has emerged as the shock favourite to replace Erik ten Hag as manager of Manchester United.

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Potter has been out of work for a year since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023.

Ten Hag looks almost certain to be sacked by Man Utd at the end of the season after another disastrous campaign at the club.

United are down in seventh place in the Premier League and need a miracle to qualify for the Champions League.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a minority stake in the club - and with it control over footballing matters - has made Ten Hag’s position even more precarious.

Potter is the favourite to replace Ten Hag with a number of bookmakers, while journalist Rich Fay reported on Wednesday that the manager is battling it out with Roberto De Zerbi for the job, with Germany national team boss Julian Nagelsmann a more distant possibility.

England manager Gareth Southgate is the favourite with some bookmakers, but Potter's close relationship with Ratcliffe could prove decisive.

Potter to return to football?

Potter is keen to return to football management after a year out of the game.

Potter had a disastrous time of things at Chelsea after replacing Thomas Tuchel as manager in the early weeks of the 2022-23 season.

Despite a world record transfer outlay from Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, the Blues found themselves in a dire position at the time of Potter’s sacking.

They were down in 11th position in the Premier League, 11 points off Champions League qualification with just 10 games to go.

Boehly had attempted to be patient with Potter but that patience ran out and he brought in Frank Lampard as caretaker manager until the end of the season before hiring Mauricio Pochettino permanently for this campaign.