Gareth Southgate is one of three possible replacements for Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford that Manchester United are “assessing.”
ten Hag has had a challenging season at Man United and new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking at managers to replace the Dutchman in the summer.
According to ESPN, “options are being explored to gauge credentials and availability of possible replacements.”
Ratcliffe and Ineos are “assessing” three managers: Southgate, Roberto De Zerbi of Brighton, and Thomas Frank of Brentford.
One source told ESPN, “Everyone is looking at De Zerbi,” referring to rumours of interest from Chelsea, Barcelona, and Liverpool, among other teams.
Frank, on the other hand, is likely the one being overlooked; his “success at building a high-energy team at Brentford while embracing the London club’s data-led approach to recruitment has earned him admirers at Old Trafford.”
Although Southgate is an “outsider” for the position and has not been involved in club football since being fired by Middlesbrough in 2009, he is still a candidate and has not made up his mind about staying with England beyond Euro 2024.
But Southgate’s tight working connection with Dan Ashworth, the soon-to-be sporting director of Man United, might be crucial, given that the two collaborated throughout Ashworth’s six-year term as the FA’s head of elite development.
Even if fifth place is sufficient according to England’s UEFA coefficient, Champions League qualification appears doubtful as United would need to catch up to Tottenham, who have played one fewer game, by six points.
The club is reportedly aware that Ten Hag’s “reputation remains high in Europe,” especially in Germany, where Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen and Vfb Stuttgart may all be interested in hiring him as manager after this season ends.
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