Sky Sports reporter claims Man Utd have spoken to ‘really smart’ Premier League boss ‘a lot’ amid Erik ten Hag departure

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Erik ten Hag’s time at Manchester United is now over as Ineos potentially look to snatch a Premier League manager to replace him.

Manchester United were beaten 2-1 by West Ham United on Sunday afternoon, but in rather controversial circumstances.

A soft penalty was given late in the game, allowing West Ham to grab the win and hand Erik ten Hag another defeat.

Well, that defeat has proven to be the final game for Ten Hag as he has now been sacked as United boss.

Appointed in 2022, Ten Hag leaves Old Trafford having won an EFL Cup and an FA Cup at United, but Premier League and European performances just haven’t been good enough.

• READ MORE: Bruno Fernandes breaks silence first as Erik ten Hag is sacked as Manchester United manager

Manchester United have spoken to Thomas Frank ‘a lot’

Ineos must now make their first managerial appointment at Old Trafford and there are a number of names being mentioned.

Xavi has been contacted and Edin Terzic is admired according to reports, but Brentford’s Thomas Frank is a name which just won’t go away.

Reports earlier in October suggested that United were keen on landing Frank if Ten Hag was to move on.

The rumours even go back to May as Frank was described as a ‘strong contender’ for the United job given his prior relationship with Sir Dave Brailsford.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has now claimed that Untied have actually spoken to Frank ‘a lot’ in preparation for a managerial change.

Speaking on Sky Sports (28/10, 12:05pm), Solekhol played down a move for Gareth Southgate and noted that Ruben Amorim will be expensive, but highlighted the interest in Frank.

“Who could they go for? Gareth Southgate has said ‘I don’t want to work again until the summer’. Ruben Amorim at Sporting, it would cost a lot of money to buy him out of his contract,” said Solekhol.

“Thomas Frank is somebody they have met and talked to a lot,” he added.

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Thomas Frank may be ready for big step up

Frank’s work at Brentford has been remarkable.

The Bees won promotion under Frank in 2021 and have now established themselves as a strong Premier League club.

Frank has been tactically flexible and whilst Brentford’s football has largely been attractive on the eye, Frank is not afraid to mix it up and go a little more direct.

That flexibility means Frank may be able to adapt in a bigger job and he has been praised as ‘really smart’ by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Frank has been in charge of Brentford for six years now and his tactical brilliance with the Bees means he is ready for a step up.

The jump to United is a big one, but there have been comparisons to Klopp’s work at Mainz and he made the step up admirably; perhaps Ineos think Frank can do the same at Old Trafford.