- Ten Hag’s future is uncertain now that Man United is twelfth in the Premier League
- The Red Devils remain winless in the Europa League after three draws
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Manchester United have held secret talks with a number of managers over the replacement of Erik ten Hag, as the Dutchman fights again to save his job at Old Trafford.
Mail Sport revealed earlier this week that United spoke to Xavi Hernandez ten days ago after a four-man delegation led by CEO Omar Berrada flew to Barcelona, while Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim and former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic also attended list of potential targets.
It is understood Brentford’s Thomas Frank is once again being strongly considered after being linked with the United role this summer.
The club’s co-owners then interviewed many candidates before deciding to keep Ten Hag and extend his contract for a year. But the fact that United have resumed their search for a replacement behind the scenes has cast fresh doubt over the 54-year-old’s future. The club does not wish to comment.
United are in the bottom half of the Premier League going into Sunday’s match against West Ham, having failed to win their opening three Europa League games after Thursday’s draw against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
Man United have held secret talks with managers amid uncertainty over Erik ten Hag’s future
The Red Devils’ hierarchy continues to debate Ten Hag’s future despite poor results
Man United have spoken to Xavi, while Brentford’s Thomas Frank is being considered
While it is not certain that United will sack Ten Hag after two and a half years in charge and gave him another reprieve during the last international break, he will be vulnerable when the Premier League goes on hiatus again next month if the results do. not improve.
The Dutchman has consistently said he is on the same page as United’s leadership team after Berrada was appointed in the summer, along with sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
But Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe pointedly refused to give Ten Hag his public backing earlier this month, and United’s co-owners are re-weighing their options amid growing concerns over the lack of progress after another £200 million to have spent in the last transfer window.
United are said to have spoken to former Barcelona boss Xavi twice in recent months. The 44-year-old has been unemployed since leaving Camp Nou last summer and is known to be reluctant to coach another club in Spain.
Amorim is one of the most highly rated coaches in Europe, although he is widely touted as Pep Guardiola’s replacement at Manchester City after they confirmed that Hugo Viana, his director of football at Sporting Lisbon, will succeed Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad at the end of the season.
Frank’s exciting style of football has won him many admirers at Old Trafford, even though Brentford were defeated there by Ten Hag last weekend.
Ruben Amorim led Sporting Lisbon to two titles and has a perfect league record this season
Edin Terzic led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final before losing to Real Madrid
Ten Hag’s team is twelfth in the Premier League and remains winless in Europe this season
Despite Brentford’s loss to Man United last weekend, Frank has many admirers at Old Trafford
The Dane was among a number of prospects who spoke to United last summer – including Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna and Marco Silva – so it is possible that other names could come into the picture. Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy could come in at short notice, and Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter are still out of work.
Meanwhile, United had a warm-down in Istanbul on Friday before flying straight to London for Sunday’s match against West Ham, where Julen Lopetegui is also under pressure.
