The FA Cup final looks increasingly likely to be Erik ten Hag’s final game as manager of Manchester United, who’ve drawn up a four-man shortlist and already opened talks with one candidate
Manchester United have opened talks with Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, one of four names on their managerial shortlist.
The embattled Erik ten Hag will lead United into this Saturday’s FA Cup final against bitter rivals Manchester City but it looks increasingly likely that he won’t be in charge next season. Ten Hag oversaw the Red Devils’ worst-ever Premier League finish this season, slumping to eighth place despite back-to-back wins to end what’s been a wretched campaign.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the rest of United’s hierarchy are strongly considering a change, with McKenna among their targets. The 38-year-old has sensationally guided Ipswich to back-to-back promotions in his first head role, having worked at United as manager of their under-21 side before assisting first-team bosses Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Sky Sports report that incoming United chief executive Omar Berrada and recently-appointed technical director Jason Wilcox met with McKenna’s representatives last week to discuss him potentially succeeding Ten Hag. Their approach comes amid interest from Chelsea, who parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday, and Brighton.
Meanwhile, the Times claim that McKenna is just one name on a four-man shortlist. The London-born Northern Irish-raised coach is joined by Pochettino, recently-departed Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel and Brentford manager Thomas Frank, with United accelerating their contingency plans for Ten Hag’s departure amid Chelsea’s own search for a new manager.
Frank’s work under Brentford’s data-driven recruitment model has impressed United chiefs and the Dane has been linked with Chelsea, too. Pochettino has long been tipped to manage the Red Devils after impressive spells with Southampton and Tottenham.
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Tuchel’s CV appeals to Ratcliffe and co, having won the Champions League in 2021 while in charge of Chelsea and recently guiding Bayern to the Champions League semi-finals. Despite finishing third in the Bundesliga and missing out of the title for the first time in 11 years, Bayern attempted to agree a new deal with Tuchel after initially agreeing to part ways at the end of the season in February.
Ratcliffe has refused to back Ten Hag publicly ever since investing £1.3billion to become a 27.7 per cent shareholder in the club though INEOS six months ago. The former Ajax boss was appointed in May 2022 and won the Carabao Cup in his first season.
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