Erik ten Hag’s days as Manchester United manager look numbered after an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday.
United’s new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has already started an overhaul of personnel at Old Trafford and the Dutch boss appears to be the next man moved on after a poor second season in charge.
We look at the names in the frame to take over at the Theatre of Dreams.
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Gareth Southgate
Rumours of England boss Gareth Southgate making a shock move to United after this summer’s European Championship are gathering pace.
Ratcliffe is an admirer of the job he has done with the Three Lions, which includes leading them to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, the final of Euro 2020 and the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate, 53, also worked with incoming director of football Dan Ashworth during his time in charge of the FA, which would help speed up the settling-in process after numerous changes to the hierarchy.
England’s performance in Germany this summer – whether good or bad – is likely to highly impact whether Red Devils chiefs, and indeed Southgate, decide it is the right appointment.
Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel is being strongly linked with a return to the Premier League when he departs Bayern Munich this summer.
The German tactician’s name has previously emerged during Liverpool’s hunt for Jurgen Klopp’s successor alongside reports of a sensational return to Chelsea.
Tuchel’s spell at Bayern turned sour after a poor Bundesliga campaign but is bidding to lead the Bavarians to the Champions League final when they face Real Madrid in the semi-final second leg this evening.
That is a competition he won with Chelsea in 2021 and 50-year-old’s track record in Europe’s premier competition may convince United he is the right man to restore their former glories.
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Graham Potter
Graham Potter, the man who replaced Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, is also reportedly vying for the Old Trafford hotseat.
Potter has been out of work since his ill-fated seven-month stint in charge of Chelsea ended in April 2023 and is believed to be eyeing up a return to the top flight.
The former Brighton boss was regarded as one of England’s brightest young managers prior to his time in West London and is another who is highly thought of by United’s co-owner.
But given his apparent struggles with the scrutiny he faced at Chelsea, it remains to be seen how he would handle the intense pressure that comes with being Man Utd manager.
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is linked with almost every top manager’s job that comes available and the United post is no different.
Football legend Zidane is undoubtedly the most decorated on this list, having led Real Madrid to three Champions League titles to go with his countless achievements as a player.
The Frenchman has not had a job since ending his second spell with Los Blancos in 2021 and will surely fancy another challenge sooner rather than later.
But disappointingly for United fans, potential roles with the France national team or Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain may appeal more to the 1998 World Cup winner.