Man Utd and INEOS have one major concern over sacking Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag’s future at Man Utd looks bleak (Photo: Getty)

Erik ten Hag could avoid the sack as INEOS are reportedly concerned there is not a ‘stand-out candidate available’ to become Manchester United manager.

All signs point to a new manager being in the Old Trafford dugout next season as the pressure continues to mount on Ten Hag following a difficult campaign.

Champions League qualification is all but over and though they have reached the FA Cup final, their shocking capitulation in Sunday’s semi-final against Coventry highlighted United’s weaknesses under the Dutchman.

Regardless of where they finish in the Premier League and whether or not they beat Manchester City at Wembley next month, many believe a decision has already been made by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team to bin-off Ten Hag after two years in charge.

Varying reports claim they have been in contact with a variety of different managers over the United job.

However, the Telegraph appear to have contradicted this by claiming that Ten Hag’s future has not been decided yet, and complicating the matter is ‘the feeling that there is no stand-out candidate available to replace him’.

Jason Wilcox is Man Utd’s newly appointed technical director (Photo: Getty)

Among the mangers linked with Old Trafford are Gareth Southgate, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter – all of whom have achieved success at different levels but all of whom have also encountered recent difficulties.

It is also said that Ten Hag will ‘effectively be on trial over the next month’ with new technical director Jason Wilcox conducting an audit of the manager’s methods to see if he fits in with INEOS ‘game model’.

Wilcox is set to analyse the former Ajax’s boss’ training sessions and relationships with the squad, carrying out extensive interviews with the players and coaching staff.

While United have ruled out sacking the 54-year-old before the end of the campaign, the deadline for the decision to be made has been set for before their final game which will be the FA Cup final on 25 May.

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