A shocking but not surprising news comes from Manchester United as it is reported that manager Erik Ten Hag is about to be sacked by the management. The Dutchman’s career has been on the line following United stagnation to go back competing in the top flight. However, that is not the main focus of the discussion at the moment.
Ten Hag could still be fired from his position even if United win the FA Cup or qualify for the Champions League next season. United have just secured the semifinal spot in the FA Cup after trashing Liverpool at Old Trafford. In the semi finals, The Red Devils will face Coventry City to fight for advancing to the final.
In the Premier League, United are nine points away from the Champions League spot. The chance of playing another season in Europe’s most elite club competition is getting narrow as they still have to play against some tough opponents.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ambitious plan could put Erik ten Hag in danger
Express reported that the current club’s operational boss Sir Jim Rattclife is trying to lure Gareth Southgate to come to Old Trafford. Southgate’s name emerged after Sir Jim discussed it with several Man United legends regarding the ideal replacement for Ten Hag. Most of them recommended the national team manager as the next man-in-charge at Old Trafford.
Southgate has been doing a decent job with England, leading them into the first semifinal of a major competition after 18 years in the 2018 World Cup. Two years later, they reached the Euro final after 24 years.
Convincing Southgate would not be an easy job for Sir Jim and his INEOS side-kick Sir Dave Brailsford but the chance is never zero. He is likely to send United’s future sporting director Dan Ashworth, Southgate’s close friend to materialise this plan.
Gareth Southgate is busy working at the moment
Southgate is currently doing his job with England in the international break. For the next seven days, the 1966 World Cup winners will face Brazil and Belgium with both matches taking place at Wembley. Despite the injury crisis, Southgate said that there is no other way but to face it one way or another.
“We seem over the last few weekends to have lost two or three players every weekend, so we are inheriting issues that are apparent at some clubs at the moment,” he said on England’s official website. “But they are completely out of our control, and you have to adjust and adapt to make the best decisions possible once you are in that situation.
“And of course, it gives opportunities for other people to come in and stake a claim, so we are always looking at the positive side of it.”