Manchester United 'likely' to 'pursue' Champions League winner if Erik ten Hag is sacked

Manchester United are ‘likely’ to ‘pursue’ Thomas Tuchel if they decide to sack Erik ten Hag, according to The Mirror. Pressure is mounting on their current head coach already after two defeats from their first three fixtures of the new Premier League season.

The Red Devils won 1-0 at home to Fulham on the opening day at Old Trafford. However, they have lost their last two games on the spin against Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool. Another name that has been mentioned as a potential managerial candidate for United is ex-England boss Gareth Southgate. However, the Daily Mail reported in July that they were ‘unlikely’ to target him.

Tuchel, who is 51-years-old, is a more realistic target for the Red Devils if they were to cut ties with Ten Hag anytime soon. The German is available following his exit from Bayern Munich earlier this year. He started his managerial career with Augsburg II and Mainz 05 before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2015. The Krumbach-born man spent two years with the Bundesliga giants and won 62.62% of matches in charge.

PSG came calling in 2018 and he made the switch over to France. He won Ligue 1 twice during his time in Paris before moving to Chelsea a few years later. Tuchel ended up getting his hands on the Champions League during his Stamford Bridge spell after the Blues beat Manchester City in the final in Porto. He has experience of managing in England which would come in handy if he was to make the switch to United down the line.

His most recent tenure at Bayern Munich didn’t quite go to plan in the end after his side missed out on the title to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, despite signing Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur just over 12 months. He may feel he has a point to prove now though as he weighs up his next move.

For now, United need to return to winning ways. Ten Hag said after their defeat against Liverpool: “Again, we have to build a new team. I explained this so many times, also on the Friday in the press conference. We will build this new team. We have young players. Also, now, we have players to build in, in the season. Today I think we had two players, three players, first start of the season, and they didn't play 90 minutes."

He added: "We will be fine, but it's clear we have to improve. But in the end of the season, I'm quite confident, again, we will have a big chance to lift another trophy."

Next up for the Red Devils is an away trip to newly-promoted Southampton. They will see that match as a chance to get three points on the board and get some confidence back as they now head into the international break.