Although nothing official has been communicated at this stage, it seems inevitable that Man United will part ways with their current manager, Erik ten Hag, at the end of the season.
The Dutchman has presided over a poor campaign for the Red Devils. One that has seen them knocked out of Europe entirely after finishing bottom of their Champions League group and conceding a record amount of goals for an English club at that stage of the competition.
They’ve also dropped points in a number of Premier League games after conceding late goals, and may find it difficult to even make it into the Europa League this season.
Man United not talking with Thomas Tuchel
With six games left, United are still 10 points adrift of Tottenham in fifth and arguably not playing well enough to be able to claw back enough points to reel the Lilywhites in.
With so many names being linked to taking over the first-team managerial hot-seat, Fabrizio Romano, talking to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing, has provided a definitive update.
“Despite rumours about ten Hag’s future and about Thomas Tuchel possibly being the club’s preferred replacement, I’m not aware of anything else with other managers now,” he said.
“There’s nothing with Tuchel yet, so far. There have also not been any contacts between Tuchel and Bayern to continue at the club and change his mind about leaving this summer; what happens in the next weeks I don’t know, but so far they haven’t discussed the possibility to change his mind and keep him.”
The plain fact that ten Hag’s position is being talked about day in and day out would suggest he’s on borrowed time at Old Trafford.
After all, if Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the new hierarchy at the club were so inclined, they could shut down the rumours about the Dutchman quickly and immediately.
Their silence therefore speaks volumes.
Assuming that a new face comes in at some point soon and after the end of the 2023/24 campaign, they’re going to have to pick up an underperforming and seemingly unhappy group of players, and that’s no easy task.
Alongside the challenge of sorting out the dressing room, there is the small matter of earning enough points to get the Red Devils straight back into Europe next season and perhaps in the mix for a trophy or two.