Manchester United are running out of time and options as uncertainty over Erik ten Hag’s future as manager continues.
The Dutchman remains in the dark as to whether he will be in charge of the club next season despite leading the Red Devils to FA Cup glory last month.
United’s owners including INEOS are conducting a review of the club’s season with Ten Hag’s future high on the agenda.
Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is out of running for the job following a meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while United have cooled their interest in Mauricio Pochettino.
England boss Gareth Southgate continues to be linked with the Old Trafford post but his current focus is solely on the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 campaign.
Ten Hag is believed to be frustrated with the club’s delay in announcing their plans for next season which the Dutchman believes could hamper summer transfer plans.
“The impression I get is that Ten Hag has become very frustrated and agitated with how long this process is taking,” said talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook.
“I keep coming back to Gareth Southgate. He’s been making noises that if England don’t win the European Championship or even if they do, he might step down.
“He’s got an existing relationship with members of INEOS Dave Brailsford and incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth.
“There may be a situation where Erik ten Hag starts the season and if it doesn’t go well for Manchester United they make the call to Gareth Southgate.
“I personally think it’s unfair on Erik ten Hag and I think it’s bordering on disrespectful the way the process is panning out.”
Meanwhile, Crook remains hesitant on whether Southgate would provide a good fit for Manchester United based on his showing at club level and failure to win a major tournament with England.
“I’m not on board,” he added. “You look at his record at club level and with this England golden generation. I think he’s done a lot of positives with this team but they still haven’t won a major trophy.
“At the last European Championship they should have beaten Italy. They went a goal up and then went into defensive mode. If we had scored a second goal the Italians would have been done and dusted.”
When quizzed on why INEOS would opt for Southgate, Crook said “Maybe they want someone to come in and galvanise the dressing room and someone who can handle the stick that inevitably comes your way as manager of Manchester United.
“I don’t see any joined-up thinking. You look at the list of candidates Thomas Tuchel is a very different character to Gareth Southgate, he plays different football to Mauricio Pochettino
“I’m not convinced Sir Jim Ratcliffe knows what they are looking for but what we are learning is they’re not convinced that Erik ten Hag is the man to Manchester United forward in the long term.”
Brentford’s Thomas Frank has also been mooted as a potential candidate, but unless they move soon Erik ten Hag will be in charge for the first game of the season in August.
Southgate himself has cast doubt over his England future and hinted he could walk away from the job if he does not win Euro 2024.
“If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore,” Southgate told Bild. “So maybe it is the last chance. I think around half the national coaches leave after a tournament – that’s the nature of international football.
“I’ve been here almost eight years now and we’ve come close. You can’t constantly put yourself in front of the public and say, ‘A little more please,’ as at some point people lose faith. If we want to be a great team and I want to be a top coach, you must deliver in big moments.”
News Summary:
- Manchester United running out of options as they decide against two managers while ‘frustrated’ Erik Ten Hag waits for news
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