Manchester United officials have reportedly already identified their ideal replacement for Erik ten Hag if he is sacked following the humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Sunday’s loss marked a low point in Ten Hag’s tenure as United manager, as Spurs comfortably outplayed the Red Devils at Old Trafford. In the aftermath, speculation began to swirl about the Dutchman’s future, with names such as Gareth Southgate and Ruud van Nistelrooy mentioned as potential successors. However, according to reports, United’s board has already settled on a specific candidate should they decide to part ways with Ten Hag. Before the season started, new United co-owners INEOS held meetings with several top managers as they contemplated replacing Ten Hag after the club finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League last season—United’s worst finish since the competition’s inception in 1992. One of the names that surfaced during those discussions was former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel. According to a July report from *The Daily Mail*, Tuchel is now considered the frontrunner should Ten Hag be dismissed. While Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team ultimately opted to retain Ten Hag, they were reportedly impressed by the strategy Tuchel proposed to restore United to the top of European football. At the time, however, Tuchel had expressed his desire for a temporary break from football following a challenging spell at Bayern Munich, which seemingly ruled him out of contention. Yet, three months later, that situation may have changed, and if Ten Hag is shown the door after the Tottenham defeat, United are likely to pursue Tuchel again. Despite the growing rumors, Ten Hag remains confident in his position. Following the defeat, he told reporters that neither he nor the club’s ownership is currently considering a managerial change. “No, I am not thinking about this. We all made the decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group, in the summer,” Ten Hag stated. “We are all on the same page, in the same boat together—the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.”

Manchester United officials have reportedly already identified their ideal replacement for Erik ten Hag if he is sacked following the humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Sunday’s loss marked a low point in Ten Hag’s tenure as United manager, as Spurs comfortably outplayed the Red Devils at Old Trafford. In the aftermath, speculation began to swirl about the Dutchman’s future, with names such as Gareth Southgate and Ruud van Nistelrooy mentioned as potential successors.

However, according to reports, United’s board has already settled on a specific candidate should they decide to part ways with Ten Hag. Before the season started, new United co-owners INEOS held meetings with several top managers as they contemplated replacing Ten Hag after the club finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League last season—United’s worst finish since the competition’s inception in 1992.

One of the names that surfaced during those discussions was former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel. According to a July report from *The Daily Mail*, Tuchel is now considered the frontrunner should Ten Hag be dismissed. While Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team ultimately opted to retain Ten Hag, they were reportedly impressed by the strategy Tuchel proposed to restore United to the top of European football.

At the time, however, Tuchel had expressed his desire for a temporary break from football following a challenging spell at Bayern Munich, which seemingly ruled him out of contention. Yet, three months later, that situation may have changed, and if Ten Hag is shown the door after the Tottenham defeat, United are likely to pursue Tuchel again.

Despite the growing rumors, Ten Hag remains confident in his position. Following the defeat, he told reporters that neither he nor the club’s ownership is currently considering a managerial change.

“No, I am not thinking about this. We all made the decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group, in the summer,” Ten Hag stated.

“We are all on the same page, in the same boat together—the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.”

 

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