Manchester United are holding secret talks with SEVERAL managers behind Erik ten Hag’s back, as Old Trafford chiefs draw up a list of potential replacements as pressure mounts on the Dutchman, it has been revealed

Manchester United have held secret talks with a number of managers over replacing Erik ten Hag as the Dutchman once again fights to keep his job at Old Trafford.

Mail Sport reported earlier this week that United spoke to Xavi Hernandez 10 days ago after a four-man delegation led by chief executive Omar Berrada flew to Barcelona, ​​with Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim and former Dortmund coach Dortmund’s Edin Terzic is also on the list. potential targets.

It is understood that Brentford’s Thomas Frank is again under scrutiny as he is being linked with a job at United in the summer.

The club’s co-owners then interviewed many candidates before deciding to keep Ten Hag and extend his contract for a year. But the fact that United have resumed their behind-the-scenes search for a replacement has cast further doubt on the 54-year-old’s future. The club declined to comment.

United are in the bottom half of the Premier League table ahead of Sunday’s clash with West Ham and have failed to win any of their first three Europa League matches after Thursday’s draw with Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

While it is not certain that United will sack Ten Hag after two-and-a-half years in charge, giving him another reprieve during the last international break, he will be vulnerable when the Premier League pauses again next month if the results will turn out to be positive. not improve.

The Dutchman has consistently said he is on the same page with United’s management after Berrada was appointed in the summer along with sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

But Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe pointedly refused to give Ten Hag a public backing earlier this month, and United’s co-owners are again weighing their options amid growing concerns about a lack of progress after another £200m spend in the last transfer window.

United have reportedly spoken to former Barca boss Xavi twice in recent months. The 44-year-old has not worked since leaving Camp Nou in the summer and is understood to be reluctant to coach another club in Spain.

Amorim is one of the most highly rated managers in Europe, although he has been widely touted as Pep Guardiola’s replacement at Manchester City after they confirmed Hugo Viana, his director of football at Sporting Lisbon, will take over from Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad. at the Etihad Stadium. end of the season.

Frank’s exciting football has earned him many fans at Old Trafford, although Brentford lost there to Ten Haga last weekend.

The Dane was among a number of candidates who spoke to United over the summer, including Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna and Marco Silva, so it is possible that other names will be in the picture again. Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy could take over at short notice, with Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter still out of action.

Meanwhile, United warmed up in Istanbul on Friday before flying straight to London for Sunday’s game at West Ham, where Julen Lopetegui is also under pressure.