Ten Hag sack latest: Man Utd line up SHOCK replacement

Tom Weber

Updated: 6 Mar 2024 19:33 GMT
4 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Erik ten Hag, Man Utd — © IMAGO

Gareth Southgate is one of the names being considered by Manchester United to replace Erik ten Hag, according to a report.

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The Dutchman is under intense pressure following back-to-back Premier League losses. After a run of good results, much of the goodwill Ten Hag had managed to regain was immediately squandered with a surprising defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford before Man City put the Red Devils to the sword.

Ten Hag's comments after his side were thoroughly dominated by City were dismissed as deluded ramblings and questions are again being asked of the 54-year-old. Players are said to be rapidly losing faith in the Dutchman, with some complaining about the injury-inducing training regime, while others have already convinced themselves that he will be sacked.

New investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group have refused to give Ten Hag a public vote of confidence and it's not hard to see why. Man Utd are 11 points off Aston Villa in fourth and a whopping 19 behind league leaders Liverpool. Ratcliffe and company are thinking about making a change.

Ratcliffe's shortlist

Indeed, according to ESPN, a shortlist of potential replacements has already been drawn up. The report asserts that Roberto de Zerbi, Thomas Frank and Gareth Southgate are among the options currently being assessed.

While the names of Brighton boss De Zerbi and, to some extent, that of Brentford coach Frank are unsurprising, the mention of Southgate is quite interesting. The England head coach hasn't been in charge of a club side since getting relegated from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009.

Southgate's post-Euro 2024 future is up in the air, though his England contract actually ends in December rather than immediately after the tournament, so there is the possibility that he would have to be bought out of his deal.

As things stand, the 53-year-old "would be an outsider should United seek a new manager," claims the report, but given his previous relationship with soon-to-be Red Devils sporting director Dan Ashworth and INEOS bigwig Sir Dave Brailsford, he could yet become a serious contender to replace Ten Hag.