After a turbulent start to the season at Manchester United, the rumours and speculation surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future continue to swirl.
United have won just two of their opening seven games in the Premier League, placing them 14th in the table and five points above the relegation zone.
It comes after Ten Hag led the Red Devils to eighth last term, the club’s worst ever finish since the Premier League’s inception.
And while Ten Hag was given the backing of United’s hierarchy in the wake of the side’s unlikely FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, it was an open secret that INEOS had held talks with several managerial candidates over the prospect of replacing the Dutchman.
United have been credited with an interest in the likes of Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Massimiliano Allegri in recent months and the latest reports indicate that Thomas Tuchel has emerged as a leading contender for the Old Trafford job.
But Ten Hag remains in charge for the time being and the 54-year-old insisted he still had the support of United bosses following Sunday’s goalless draw with Aston Villa.
Asked whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his advisors still backed him, Ten Hag replied: ‘I don’t have any idea that’s different because [otherwise] they should have told me. We communicate very openly. It’s very transparent.
‘We are all on board together, on one page. We know what we are working through is a long-term process. I speak continually with them.
‘After the game I have to do my job – talking to the players, managing the players and answering questions from the media.
‘But we always talk every week. I would say we talk every day so I expect I will speak to them.’
Despite Ten Hag’s comments, though, numerous high-profile managers continue to be linked, including his assistant manager and fellow countryman, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who returned to the Theatre of Dreams back in July.
Leading candidates to succeed Erik ten Hag
Next Manchester United manager odds
Ruud Van Nistelrooy: 11/8
Gareth Southgate: 5/2
Thomas Tuchel: 6/1
Kieran McKenna: 9/1
Graham Potter: 14/1
Simone Inzaghi: 16/1
Massimiliano Allegri: 20/1
‘Thomas Tuchel is 6/1 to become the next Man United manager amid reports the Red Devils hierarchy are considering their options following a second successive draw on Sunday,’ Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said.
‘Ruud van Nistelrooy remains the 11/8 favourite to take over from Ten Hag, with Gareth Southgate next in line at 5/2.
‘Elsewhere, Kieran McKenna is 9/1 to return to his former club, with Graham Potter 14/1 and Simone Inzaghi 16/1 to take charge.’
United’s co-owner Ratcliffe was asked whether he still had faith in Ten during in interview with the BBC’s Dan Roan last week, but the billionaire businessman stressed that a decision on the manager’s future was not his call.
‘I don’t want to answer that question…I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects,’ Ratcliffe said.
‘But that team that’s running Manchester United has only been together since June or July. They weren’t there in January, February, March or April – [CEO] Omar [Berrada], [Sporting Director] Dan Ashworth – they only arrived in July.
‘They’ve only been there…you can count it in weeks almost – they’ve not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.
‘Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.’
It remains to be seen whether or not Ten Hag will still be at the helm after the international break when United return to Premier League action at home to Brentford.
The Red Devils follow this up with a trip to Fenerbahce in the Europa League, where they will look to get their first win on the board in the competition.
United currently find themselves down in 21st spot in the Europa League standings after back-to-back draws with FC Twente and Porto.
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