Erik ten Hag handed unexpected boost as Man Utd boss edges closer to keeping job due to ‘lack of interest’

ERIK TEN HAG has allegedly received a boost concerning his Manchester United future.

The Dutchman, 54, has seen his side TWICE squander leads in additional time this week to all-but mathematically end their top four hopes.

United were firstly pegged back by Brentford last weekend before they made unwanted history at Chelsea on Wednesday.

United were leading 3-2 on 99 minutes and 17 seconds but still managed to come away from Stamford Bridge with nothing.

Noni Madueke was firstly fouled by Diogo Dalot in the area, allowing Cole Palmer to step up and level from the spot.

Then Palmer received a short corner and drilled a deflected shot past Andre Onana to secure his hat-trick with a strike on 100 minutes and 39 seconds.

That was the latest a side has ever led in a Premier League match that they have gone on to lose. 

That setback at Chelsea came in front of new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe and further increased pressure on Ten Hag – although he insists he will still be in charge next season.

However, now I News states that his job “is not thought to be under immediate threat of being sacked” due largely to “a lack of viable, interested alternatives” available.

United are currently nine points adrift of the Champions League places but more poor results in their final eight games could force Ratcliffe and his lieutenant Sir Dave Brailsford to make a change.

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They have already allegedly created a list of potential replacements but “several of the top contenders are lukewarm about the prospect of taking over at Old Trafford, given the monumental task at hand”, according to the outlet’s sources.

England manager Gareth Southgate and former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, recently appointed Germany chief for this summer’s Euro 2024 on home soil, are two of the most recent men linked.

But this update claims a source told them: “Why would Gareth Southgate want to leave the England job for United given the mess they are in?

“This is potentially the best generation of talent we have ever had, a group Gareth has helped steer through the system. Why not see where that group can go?”

Meanwhile, despite his deal currently only lasting until July, Nagelsmann is believed to be keen on working long-term on his national team’s project.

Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane is believed to have little interest in moving to England while Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi is thought to be Bayern’s top choice to replace Thomas Tuchel. 

Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim is the favourite to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

That leaves out-of-work Graham Potter and Brentford’s Thomas Frank “as the two remaining candidates on Ineos’ list” as potential targets.

However, this report adds that “little is known about whether either would be keen to replace Ten Hag” but “there is no panic at Ineos”.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk