Manchester United have initiated discussions with representatives of Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Frank as the club deliberates on the future of Erik ten Hag, according to recent reports. Ten Hag’s position at Old Trafford has been under scrutiny following United’s disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League, their worst top-flight performance in 34 years, with 14 losses.
Despite the speculation, Ten Hag’s tenure appeared likely to end this summer regardless of the outcome of the FA Cup final. However, United’s unexpected 2-1 victory over Manchester City, which secured them a place in next season’s Europa League, has introduced new uncertainties about the best course of action. Ten Hag had previously led United to a successful first season, including a Carabao Cup win, a third-place league finish, and two appearances at Wembley.
Renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that United plan to conduct an end-of-season review this week to decide Ten Hag’s fate. The club has already engaged in preliminary talks with other managerial candidates’ representatives, preparing for a potential transition.
Previously, there were claims that United had approached Kieran McKenna, a former first-team coach at Old Trafford who has achieved back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town, and Thomas Tuchel, recently departed from Bayern Munich. Tuchel is rumored to be replaced by Burnley’s Vincent Kompany.
The Telegraph now reveals that United have also contacted Mauricio Pochettino, who recently left Chelsea after just one season despite a late-season surge that saw them finish sixth. Additionally, United have reached out to Thomas Frank, whose successful tenure at Brentford has made him a sought-after candidate. Frank’s accomplishments include securing promotion to the Premier League and achieving consecutive top-half finishes.
Standard Sport reports that Frank is also on a shortlist to replace Pochettino at Chelsea, which includes McKenna, Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, and Roberto De Zerbi, who recently left Brighton. Brighton is also reportedly targeting McKenna to succeed De Zerbi.
The upcoming review will be crucial for United as they weigh their options and decide whether to retain Ten Hag or appoint a new manager to lead the club forward.