Ten Hag is approaching the end of his second campaign at Old Trafford and United are still falling short of expectations. Only an FA Cup win would see them salvage any form of silverware, and they are projected to meet Manchester City if they make it to the final.
In the Premier League, United are six points shy of the minimum fifth-place finish required to qualify for next season’s Champions League. According to The Daily Star, Ten Hag faces the sack even if he is successful on both fronts.
Sir Jim and his INEOS side-kick, Sir Dave Brailsford, have consulted with United legends over who should replace Ten Hag, and most of them recommended Southgate.
The 53-year-old has been in charge of England for almost eight years, leading the nation to the Euro 2020 final. But Sir Jim is set to try and lure him away from the international stage after making him the leading candidate for the United job.
Southgate enjoys a healthy working relationship with the Red Devils’ incoming sporting director, Dan Ashworth, owing to their time together at the FA. The England manager’s appointment would also go down well with a number of senior United stars.
The ex-Ajax boss would be entitled to a whopping £10million severance package under the terms of his United deal. Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup and finished third in the Premier League during his debut season.
But a raft of expensive summer signings have failed to take United to the next level, and Sir Jim’s bid to knock northern rivals Liverpool and Man City off their perch is set to prompt a change in the dugout.
