Man Utd CEO meets with Ten Hag replacement

Tom Weber

Updated: 26 Oct 2024 18:00 BST
3 min read

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United — © IMAGO

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada has held talks with Xavi, according to a report.

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Erik ten Hag continues to be under intense pressure at Old Trafford and he is feeling it, judging by his increasingly ridiculous comments. Man Utd have endured their worst start to a Premier League season - off the back of their worst-ever campaign in the division - and Ten Hag is fighting to keep his job.

Man Utd came from 1-0 down to beat Brentford last weekend, but they followed that encouraging result up with yet another limp display in midweek, only mustering a 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce.

Ten Hag's men have recorded just one win in seven games, so it is only natural for club chiefs to be considering their options. Journalist Ben Jacobs has reported that Man Utd have made contact with former Barcelona manager Xavi through intermediaries as part of routine succession planning.

Berrada meets Xavi

However, the Daily Mail goes even further and claims that Man Utd CEO Omar Berrada has personally travelled to Spain to hold 'secret' talks with the 44-year-old.

To make matters worse for Ten Hag, the Spaniard is not the only potential replacement his bosses have spoken to. It is claimed that there have also been talks with Ruben Amorim, Edin Terzic and Thomas Frank.

Amorim is also under consideration at Man City as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola, while Terzic has been linked with a return to West Ham where he once acted as assistant to Slaven Bilic. Frank, meanwhile, has publically questioned whether he would enjoy being in charge of Man Utd.

This speaks to a large issue, which saved Ten Hag's job in the first place following the conclusion of last season. There is a dearth of suitable options and most managers would think twice about walking into the lion's den that is Old Trafford.

But the fact that Man Utd are talking to replacements will make for grim reading for Ten Hag.