Manchester United have many changes upcoming and there is speculation over whether one will be the manager.
There is always pressure on a Manchester United manager. And when you lose 12 games before Christmas, with Liverpool away next, the speculation goes into overdrive.
Erik ten Hag has lost the faith of some fans amid questionable tactics, with early elimination from the Champions League group stages a total disaster.
There is speculation over his replacement. The Sun claim incoming investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a huge fan of former Chelsea boss Graham Potter.
Fabrizio Romano provides update
Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the situation, in a video via his YouTube channel.
Romano explains that Ratcliffe’s top priority is to put his board in place, rather than make an immediate change of manager.
To be fair this ties up with the report, which just said Ratcliffe has a potential preference for Potter if a change needs to be made.
Romano explained: “The reality is that what I’m hearing Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still focusing on the board. He wants to take care of the board in the best way. Qatari were going to buy 100 per cent of Manchester United and change everything. Sir Jim Ratcliffe knows now people will judge him on sporting control, he’s just buying 25 per cent of the club, he’s not changing everything.
“Sporting control is important, board is important, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is taking care of this in the best way possible, the new CEO, Blanc, imminent, the new people into the board to take care of transfer market. the first step for Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the board, it is crucial, it is the best way to put Manchester United first immediately.”
Jean Claude-Blanc was hired by INEOS in late 2022, courted away from Paris Saint-Germain, who he helped become a European powerhouse.
Blanc previously worked at Juventus, and his experience makes him a top candidate and major upgrade on Richard Arnold.
As Romano points out, getting the senior staff in place at Manchester United is essential and a priority over anything else. All is now waiting on Ratcliffe’s purchase being signed off before kicking into action.
Erik ten Hag to be given a chance
Romano did not discuss Graham Potter directly, who is available, but said a conversation on the Manchester United manager would be a topic of discussion a little later down the line.
He explained: “Then the manager is going to be a separate conversation. No one has told Erik ten Hag he is under threat, so this is the situation.
“He [Ratcliffe] wants to see results, people on the board are the same. There is going to be a conversation with Erik ten Hag, there is going to be an exchange, and then we will see.”
Ten Hag just needs to ensure he wins games then. Easier said than done, especially with a very tough fixture list to end 2023.
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