Man United is preparing for an uncertain summer as it becomes increasingly likely that Ten Hag will be fired. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher even said that the decision had been made.
Last month, it was said that England coach Gareth Southgate was the leading candidate. Southgate led the Three Lions to the EURO 2020 final and impressed in two consecutive World Cups. His priority right now is to focus on the EURO finals in Germany next summer.
Southgate once said of his links with United: “I certainly wouldn’t talk to anyone else, I never would, I’ve been working for eight years and would never like to talk to anyone else. other when I’m at work, so I don’t know if that answers your question. My goal is the European championship.”
Besides Southgate, Thomas Tuchel seems to be the next name. It is believed that Ratcliffe has contacted the German strategist as he prepares to leave Bayern Munich this summer.
Other potential options include Zinedine Zidane, who has been unemployed since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021. Zidane has previously turned down the opportunity to take on a coaching role in the Premier League. The French coach is said to be interested in United, but he is also the leading candidate to replace Tuchel at Bayern.
Southgate is one of the leading candidates to lead MU
Graham Potter could also be a surprise candidate. The British military leader still has no job after being fired by Chelsea last season. He turned down the Ajax job and appears to be pushing for a more prestigious position despite his nightmare at Stamford Bridge.
Also unemployed and ready to go to Old Trafford is Julen Lopetegui, former Wolves coach. The Spanish coach impressed at Molineux last season, despite failing miserably at Real Madrid in 2018.
Brentford’s Thomas Frank is also an option. Frank took the Bees to promotion to the Premier League and has successfully kept them in the top flight. But this season has been extremely difficult and he may be ready for a new challenge, although luring Frank away from Brentford will not be an easy task.
Then there are four names that United have little or no hope of appointing. First is Roberto De Zerbi, the strategist who is increasingly likely to stay at Brighton next season.
Similarly, Julian Nagelsmann has signed a new contract with the German national team and it will not be easy to leave.
Ruben Amorim will leave Sporting Lisbon this summer, but his new stop seems to be Liverpool, not United.
And finally, Ratcliffe has included Ange Postecoglou on his shortlist. The Australian coach has performed excellently at Tottenham and this team seems to be moving much faster than MU on the road back to the top. However, this fact makes the possibility of Spurs losing him unlikely.