Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is under huge pressure already and links to potential replacements are gathering pace.
We are not quite at crisis mode just yet but the last week has been tricky for Erik ten Hag.
Wins over Southampton and Barnsley appeared to inspire some confidence and United should have really beaten Crystal Palace.
The atmosphere has turned since that 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park with United contriving to draw 1-1 at home to FC Twente.
That was a poor result and Ten Hag really needed to bounce back against Tottenham Hotspur but instead lost 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Losing is one thing but this was another gutless and disjointed performance from a United side who just don’t seem to be making progress under Ten Hag.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe stance on Gareth Southgate
Ineos decided to stick with Ten Hag at the end of last season and handed him a one-year contract extension.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co may need to make a change very soon though and it’s no surprise to see Gareth Southgate’s name mentioned again.
The former England boss is out of work and would be able to get straight down to work at Old Trafford.
iNews now report that Southgate is the ‘top pick’ for many key decision makers inside United.
It’s noted that Southgate’s new agent Jimmy Worrall is close to both Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford.
One source even claims that Brailsford would ‘fight’ to make sure Southgate lands the job – if it become available – and the pair are understood to still be in contact now.
“Brailsford is especially persuasive,” the source suggested.
“He set his sights on [Dan] Ashworth very early on and went all out to get his man. Southgate has been his top pick as coach since he walked in the door. I expect him to fight to convince others at United that Southgate is the right man.”
As for Ratcliffe, he is thought to view Southgate as a ‘real coup’ given his strong record with England over the years.
Ratcliffe has seemingly loved Southgate’s work on the international stage and believes landing Southgate would be a sign of United’s pulling power.
Southgate also has Dan Ashworth connection
Ratcliffe and Brailsford appear to be on the same page about Southgate and ether is also a connection to Dan Ashworth.
United’s sporting director worked alongside Southgate in the England setup and oversaw his appointment as England boss on a permanent basis in 2016.
Key decision makers inside Old Trafford clearly have strong ties to Southgate and new speculation surrounding a move is no surprise.
United don’t seem ready to sack Ten Hag but poor results against Porto and Aston Villa this week could prove to be the tipping point – especially with the international break on the horizon.
Southgate may be popular inside the club but fans would surely be left a little unconvinced.
Southgate did well as England boss but couldn’t quite get over the line in major tournaments as a fairly conservative approach came up short.
That style may not lift the cloud if Ten Hag does move on but Southgate is a name to keep a close eye on in the coming weeks.
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