Man Utd 'place' Premier League’s second long-serving boss on Erik ten Hag replacement 'shortlist' as 'talks begin'

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains the favourite to become the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season after an underwhelming start to the new campaign.

Last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa leaves the Red Devils 14th in the table heading into the international break and Ten Hag’s team find themselves six points behind a Champions League position after just seven league matches. Lacklustre 3-0 defeats to rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur as well as dropped points from winning positions in Europe against FC Twente and FC Porto have only ramped up the growing feeling of disgruntlement from fans around Old Trafford.

After steering Manchester United to a lowest ever Premier League finish at the end of last season, many expected Ten Hag to leave Old Trafford over the summer. But a shock FA Cup win over Manchester City - his second trophy in two seasons - bought him more time after a period of uncertainty which ultimately resulted in the Dutchman signing a contract extension until June 2026.

Ten Hag was backed over the summer with a net spend of £94.35m with the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs De Ligt, Nazour Mazouri, Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro all arriving but as it stands the Red Devils are showing little signs of improvement on the pitch. Pre-planned talks between members of Manchester United’s hierarchy are expected to focus on Ten Hag’s long-term future in the dugout and according toTeamTalkthe international break could also be used as a period to line-up any potential successors.

TalkSport claims that Brentford boss Thomas Frank is now one of the top names on the shortlist after six excellent years in West London. Frank joined Brentford in 2018 and within just three years led them to the Premier League for the first time in 74 years. Against the odds, while also dealing with the long-term betting suspension of former talisman Ivan Toney, he has constantly been able to keep the Bees pushing above their weight.

He has 123 games of Premier League experience and is renowned for being an effective operator in the transfer market, something which Manchester United have struggled with in recent windows. Also on the shortlist are Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate, who are both out of work after their jobs with Bayern Munich and England respectively came to an end in recent months.

Tuchel famously led Chelsea to Champions League glory and oversaw a huge mid-season rival in 2020/21 when the Blues were struggling under Frank Lampard. The German has dealt with some of the world’s biggest names and also boasts a Bundesliga and French Ligue 1 title on his impressive CV.

Southgate, on the other hand, has been out of club management since suffering relegation from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009. However, at international level his track record makes him the most successful England boss since Sir Alf Ramsey, taking the team to two European Championship finals, one World Cup semi-final and one Nations League semi-final.

He has experience of being under the spotlight, has managed many of the country's most high profile names and already has a solid working relationship with Dan Ashworth from the pair's time together with England.