Why Ten Hag's days are numbered with Ratcliffe's first-pick waiting in the wings

The pressure is increasing on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman is currently presiding over a horror campaign at Old Trafford with United eight points adrift of the top four and knocked out of the Champions League at the group stages.

Although the 54-year-old delivered Champions League football back to Manchester United last season, and won a Carabao Cup to boot, this season has been drastically different.

The Red Devils have lost 10 of their 26 Premier League matches and earned only one win in the Champions League before they were eliminated.

They remain in the FA Cup, where they face Liverpool in the next round, but it is hard to see where the glory comes from this season for Ten Hag.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours

Their form alone would be bad enough to warrant the sack in the past - David Moyes was dismissed in 2014 having lost fewer matches by this stage of the season than Ten Hag - but changes at the top around Old Trafford bring Ten Hag’s future into even sharper focus.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently completed a deal to take control of 27.7% of the club and has set about a root-and-branch reform of football operations. Sir David Brailsford, director of sport at Ratcliffe’s INEOS, now has a remit at Man Utd. Also Omar Berrada was poached from Manchester City to work as the club’s CEO, while Dan Ashworth is next to be installed.

Ashworth sets up meeting with Potter

The ex-Newcastle sporting director has been placed on gardening leave while the terms of his compensation package are being worked out. The Magpies are said to be seeking £20 million.

All of this leaves Ten Hag’s future in doubt.

And the latest reports aren’t promising for the former Ajax manager if he has any hope of leading United in the long term.

Ashworth has met with Graham Potter, the former Chelsea manager, in recent days, according to SunSport in what could be seen as an attempt to work out Ten Hag’s successor.

Brailsford as well as Ratcliffe are known to be a fan of Potter’s and the same outlet reported in December that Racliffe and Potter met to discuss replacing Ten Hag. The 71-year-old billionaire even tried to appoint Potter once upon a time for his other club, the INEOS-owned Nice in Ligue 1.

Potter, 48, has rejected multiple offers since being sacked by Chelsea last April and is well acquainted with Ashworth having enjoyed a period of success on the south coast with Brighton.

Ratcliffe in his first full interview since the takeover refused to back Ten Hag stating to do so would be “inappropriate”.

That has plunged into doubt Ten Hag’s future and it appears there is a storm on the horizon for the beleaguered boss in the shape of Potter.

Inside Man Utd's dismal season

United lost at home last weekend to Fulham in dismal circumstances, to go along with home defeats this season to Brighton, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

They have also lost in poor fashion to West Ham and Nottingham Forest away from Old Trafford with humiliation coming at the hands of Manchester City in the first derby of the season.

United were even knocked out of the Carabao Cup in embarrassing fashion by Newcastle.

It’s understood their budgets could be affected negatively if they fail to return to the Champions League and also took a big financial hit by failing to make it through to the knockout stages this term in regard to broadcast revenue and matchday income.

There are also huge question marks over Ten Hag’s record in the transfer market with the manager signing player that don’t appear equipped to deal with playing for Manchester United. Antony is chief among them, handpicked by Ten Hag from Ajax, but he has failed to provide a single goal or assist in the Premier League all season long.

Jury out on Ten Hag's signings

The jury remains out on other signings like Andre Onana, Sofyan Amrabat, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount.

United simply cannot afford another summer of transfer wastage and it’s understood there is scrutiny on Ten Hag’s track record in that department.

Ten Hag has also been hit with personnel issues within his squad this season. Jadon Sancho, a multi-million pound asset was banished on loan to Borussia Dortmund having failed to apologise for his part in an ugly public squabble while Marcus Rashford has earned the wrath of his boss for a string of ill-advised nights out.

Another derby day demolition by City on Sunday could bring Ten Hag ever closer to his day of reckoning at Old Trafford with Potter waiting in the wings.