Ten Hag on borrowed time at Man Utd as Ratcliffe shortlist revealed

Tom Weber

Updated: 22 Jan 2024 16:34 GMT
3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Erik ten Hag — © ProShots

Erik ten Hag is facing the sack at Manchester United unless results improve between now and the end of the campaign, according to a report.

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The Red Devils have endured a torrid campaign and questions are being asked of Ten Hag, with voices calling for him to be axed growing ever louder. Indeed, ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton recently urged new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to pull the trigger as part of his management overhaul.

This Ratcliffe revolution has already seen several fresh faces arrive at Old Trafford. Sir Dave Brailsford will advise the INEOS chief on sporting matters, while Omar Berrada has been poached from Man City to become Man Utd's new CEO, replacing Richard Arnold. Thus far, it has seemed unlikely that Ten Hag could follow Arnold in getting the boot this season, but his invincibility is quickly dissipating.

Now, TEAMtalk claims that Ten Hag will be axed at the end of the season unless results improve. The Red Devils are already out of the Carabao Cup and Champions League, while languishing in seventh in the Premier League standings.

Ratcliffe's shortlist

The report further claims that Ratcliffe and company have a three-man shortlist of potential successors already drawn up. It is asserted that Graham Potter, Roberto de Zerbi and Francesco Farioli are among the favourites for the job.

Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023, while De Zerbi has been doing a mostly stellar job at Brighton, though the Seagulls haven't quite been as swashbuckling as they were last term.

Farioli, finally, has made waves in Ligue 1 at INEOS-owned Nice, so Ratcliffe will be intimately familiar with the Italian. Nice sit second in the table, boasting the best defence in the league.

FootballTransfers previously explained that, although Farioli has done an exceptional job in France, his 'negative' style of play likely wouldn't endear him to Red Devils fans.