Potential Erik ten Hag replacement enters talks for different job, Man Utd candidate is battling Pep Guardiola

Ineos decided against sacking Erik ten Hag over the international break despite Manchester United’s terrible start to the season.

Manchester United have suffered their worst-ever start to a Premier League season under Erik ten Hag, but the Dutchman has narrowly avoided being sacked.

After the dismal 3-0 defeat to Tottenham late last month, the pressure on Ten Hag hit boiling point and he was given two games to turn things around by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

United then drew back-to-back games away to Porto and Aston Villa which was enough for Ten Hag to keep his job over the October break.

Ten Hag is expected to take charge of the Red Devils when they return to action against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

There were as many as 10 potential replacements for Ten Hag if Ineos decided to pull the trigger, many of which are already known by the United owners after their interviews over the summer.

However, that number will dwindle the longer they leave the decision, with unemployed managers likely to look elsewhere if Ineos stick with Ten Hag.

The likes of Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel are all currently out of a job and have been linked with the Old Trafford hot seat, although Southgate ruled himself out of the job.

It seems Tuchel is also set to drop out of the replacement list with the former Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich boss now leading the race for the England vacancy.

Thomas Tuchel battling Pep Guardiola for England job

According to Sky Sports, Thomas Tuchel is in “pole position” to become the new England manager.

They claim Tuchel’s representatives have entered talks with the FA as they search for a successor to Southgate.

Tuchel came extremely close to becoming United manager over the summer after talks with Ineos progressed to the point where financial terms were discussed.

However, he will no longer be an option available to Ineos if he takes the England job.

Tuchel is currently in pole position for the England vacancy, but Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remains the FA’s “dream candidate” according to Fabrizio Romano.

Guardiola is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and the FA have identified him as a top target.

He added fuel to the England rumours this week after saying “anything is possible” when asked about the Three Lions job.

‘I need ASSURANCE’- Zinedine Zidane reveals the only CONDITION that will make Him accept Man United job

Emmanuel Petit, a France World Cup winner, has claimed that Zinedine Zidane would require a series of assurances from Sir Jim Ratcliffe before he’d even contemplate taking the reins at Manchester United.

The Real Madrid legend is “very conscious” about player quality and would need to be convinced he can tackle the issues at Old Trafford.

Petit has indicated that Zidane would only entertain an offer if he’s confident in addressing the current challenges facing the club.

Despite this, concerns over the squad’s quality and potential language barriers could hinder his potential appointment.

Amidst a flurry of speculation, Zidane has been recently linked with the managerial position at Old Trafford, as Erik ten Hag braces for Brentford amidst scrutiny following a disappointing season start.

With just three wins out of 11 in all competitions and two from seven in the Premier League, the pressure is mounting.

Zidane’s name is not new in the context of a possible saviour for the Red Devils, and with Didier Deschamps showing no signs of vacating the French national team’s helm, the rumour mill is abuzz yet again

Nonetheless, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Petit expressed scepticism about the likelihood of Zidane making such a move.

He mused over whether Zidane would be willing to leave his comfortable life in Madrid, stating: “I’m not sure that he speaks very good English as well. And communication is very important in the dressing room.”

The Red Devils’ struggle to replicate their heyday success since the departure of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 has been palpable, with the club clinching just five top-four finishes since then. Their alarming eighth-place finish in the previous season marks the lowest in their Premier League history.

Despite bagging five major trophies during this time, including the 2016 Europa League, United’s presence has been markedly absent beyond the Champions League quarter-finals.

For Zidane, tipped by some as a potential saviour amid United’s current slump to 14th in the table and a three-game goal drought, Old Trafford might not hold much allure, suggests former French international Emmanuel Petit.

Petit opines that ‘Zizou’, who boasts an illustrious managerial record with Real Madrid, would demand solid assurances before contemplating a switch to the Manchester side.

He added: “Honestly, I know a little bit, Zizou [Zidane], and he needs to get guarantees if he wants to sign over there in Manchester United. At the moment, the environment at Manchester United for years has not been good.”

Man Utd hero interviewed Thomas Tuchel and is convinced he ‘fits the bill’

Thomas Tuchel has been linked with Manchester United and one Red Devils legend thinks he would be a good fit for the club.

Manchester United icon Peter Schmeichel has thrown his weight behind Thomas Tuchelas a strong contender for the managerial hot seat at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag has got through the international break with his job still intact, but the speculation around his position is not quietening down.

United’s 0-0 draw away to Aston Villa consigned United to their worst league start since 1989. A group of United executives gathered in London last Tuesday, but the former Ajax manager looks to have retained his role.

Nevertheless, ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has been linked with the position, while Tuchel, who has been a free agent since he left Bayern Munich, is still believed to be a candidate. Having spoken to the ex-Chelsea boss before, Schmeichel believes Tuchel would be an outstanding option for the Red Devils.

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While speaking to Arsenal legend David Seaman on the ‘Seaman Says’ podcast, via Betway, Schmeichel said: “I think with Tuchel and the last two jobs that he had at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, he’s been at those two clubs at the wrong time in their history. Chelsea was a mess when he was there and there was so much internal fighting.

“There’s new owners coming in and so many things were happening with Bayern. The same thing, they changed the whole board of directors, they changed the whole leadership of the club. They lasted for one year and that was precisely the year that he was there.

“I really like Thomas Tuchel. Being around the Champions League and interviewing him, listening to what he’s saying when he’s in the technical area, and his personality, he just looks like somebody who could be a good manager at Manchester United.

“I don’t think he had his way at Chelsea. I know for sure he didn’t have his way at Bayern. I just think he’s got such a great aura around him that he fits a bill.”

Tuchel has also been linked with the England job ever since Gareth Southgate resigned after last summer’s European Championship. United are currently languishing in 14th position and face Brentford in the Premier League next, followed by a Europa League clash away to Fenerbahce, who are managed by former United boss Jose Mourinho.

Despite his admiration for Tuchel, Schmeichel pledged to give Ten Hag his backing. He added: “Erik ten Hag is still the manager, and for as long as he’s the manager, as a fan I will support him because I want the club to do well. I don’t want Manchester United to be that football club that changes the manager all the time.