According to a recent story on Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford, Manchester United is considering hiring a former Premier League manager to succeed him at the end of this season.

Man Utd manager information

Ten Hag is currently seeing improvement after receiving unrelenting criticism earlier in the season, not the least of which was after he was eliminated from the Champions League during the group round. Despite drawing the other league game against Tottenham at home, the Red Devils have won four of their past five games across all competitions, and it appears that the manager is beginning to win over some of his critics.

The 54-year-old has yet to persuade the general football fan base that he is the right player to return United to the pinnacle of English football, though, as his performances and results have far too frequently proved to be erratic, and his handling of the Jadon Sancho situation has drawn a great deal of criticism. Serial winners like Antonio Conte are already being linked, and the club is said to have gotten in touch with him.

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To be honest, if Ten Hag’s form were to decline once again before the season ends and another name was floated as a potential successor, it would be shocking if Ten Hag’s replacement wasn’t at least being looked at.

Contact Man Utd’s Julen Lopetegui

Conte is also mentioned, and ex-Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui is considered as a potential replacement for Ten Hag, according to Caught Offside.

Erik Ten Hag, Julen, Lope Tegui
“Julen Lopetegui and Antonio Conte were contacted early by the club to evaluate them as possible options in case they choose to take Ten Hag’s place at the end of the season, according to sources close to the Man Utd issue who spoke with CaughtOffside.

“CaughtOffside understands that Lopetegui was recently approached and that he turned down the chance to take over as manager of Al Ittihad due to the fact that an opening at United could soon come about.”

The 57-year-old has a tonne of game experience, even if Wolves fired him in an odd way before the current campaign started. Lopetegui employs a possession-based approach to draw teams out and expose space in behind. He typically uses a 4-3-3 formation with a “false nine” up front. His resume includes stints with both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.

“It was a completely different Wolves in the second-half and that is due to the manager’s ability to change and adapt,” BBC pundit Danny Murphy once said of his tactical game-changing skills. He also won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020. And he has carried it out multiple times. For that reason, coaches are hired and compensated for it. Flexibility and the capacity to identify issues and come up with solutions.”

That showcases the Spaniard’s heritage to perfection. However, some United supporters may be concerned because he didn’t even last three months at Real Madrid, and neither of his stints for Spain nor Madrid were successful.

Manchester United Premier League market value (mainoo)
If Ten Hag is replaced, a more astute selection should be made instead of someone who has accomplished a great deal in his career but has also had some quite conspicuous failures in his employment. Lopetegui would seem to be a gamble that is truly unaffordable right now, as the next manager needs to be among the finest in the business.