Manchester United have first contacted Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, as new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks for Erik ten Hag’s potential successor.
Erik ten Hag’s future has attracted further scrutiny heading into the final weeks of the 2023/24 campaign after his team threw away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 in the FA Cup semi-final against Championship outfit Coventry City before eventually winning in a penalty shootout to move into the final, where they will face cross-town rivals and holders Manchester City next month.
The Red Devils have won just one of their last seven Premier League games to drop down to seventh in the table, whilst being eliminated from Europe before Christmas after finishing bottom of Champions League Group A. Add to the underwhelming FA Cup semi-final display against Coventry City and the pressure has only ramped up on Ten Hag.
Under new minority investors INEOS, led by chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a new structure is being placed with multiple appointments taking place behind the scenes. Thomas Tuchel’s preference is to return to the Premier League this summer amid interest from Barcelona. The German tactician, who is set to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, has been reportedly approached by Jim Ratcliffe. The British billionaire values Tuchel highly and has asked him about a commitment for the 2024/25 season in the event Man United sacks Ten Hag.
Thomas Tuchel open to becoming new Man United boss
After failing to build on last campaign’s third-place Premier League finish and Carabao Cup success, Ten Hag’s future as Man United manager has been debated for some time now. The Dutch tactician is battling to keep his job at Old Trafford and must at least win the FA Cup in May to impress the club’s new shareholders.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel will be out of work at the end of the ongoing season as Bayern have agreed to mutually part ways with him, meaning he will be hunting for potential managerial opportunities elsewhere. The 50-year-old, who managed Chelsea from January 2021 to September 2022, would prefer to take a job in England. He is open to the prospect of replacing Ten Hag at Man United.
Tuchel won the Champions League during the early days of his managerial period with Chelsea, before guiding them to a third-placed Premier League finish. However, he was sacked by the Blues in 2022 and appointed by Bayern as Julian Nagelsmann’s replacement at the business end of the 2022/23 campaign.
Having failed to help Bayern continue their dominance in Germany and lose the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen this season, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain tactician will be aiming to once again prove himself as one of the best managers in Europe with Man United.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
