Man Utd is “convinced” about the contentious manager swoop, and a startling second target has emerged.
Gareth Southgate is Manchester United’s top choice to succeed Erik ten Hag as manager, and a former Liverpool player is apparently back on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s radar. Ten Hag’s position seemed secure before Monday’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace, despite the fact that Manchester United has had yet another poor season. It had been reported that Ratcliffe was hesitant to invest a lot of money to replace Ten Hag because of the club’s concerns about sustainability and profit.
The British billionaire believed that, with all the changes that have occurred at Old Trafford over the past 12 months, it would be unfair to assess Ten Hag. All that appears to have changed, though, after the humiliating loss at Selhurst Park and the way Palace outplayed Manchester United. Despite the fact that Ratcliffe won’t make the decision before Manchester United plays in the FA Cup final on May 25, many players believe the Dutchman’s destiny has already been decided, according to The Telegraph. Ratcliffe appears to have come to the conclusion that firing Ten Hag is the best way to help Manchester United accomplish their objectives, even if doing so will push the team toward insolvency.
Man Utd hopes to reach an agreement with Southgate “in the coming weeks” so that after the Euros are over, they can name him as Ten Hag’s replacement. Ratcliffe may have a lot of respect for the 53-year-old, but this decision might alienate some Manchester United supporters. Even if Southgate is among England’s all-time greatest coaches, success on the international stage does not guarantee success at the club level. In addition, Southgate experienced Premier League relegation in the 2008–09 season while managing Middlesbrough, his only other club.