“Erik Ten Hag has done his best and his time is up. His replacement is one of the best managers in the football space and I can’t wait to see what he achieves at Old Trafford” – This is according to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as he is reportedly preparing to make a controversial manager the ‘top contender’ to succeed Erik Ten Hag.

Erik Ten Hag is facing mounting pressure at Manchester United.

Despite signing a new contract over the summer after an unexpected FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, the club made it clear they expected both results and performances to improve.

So far, the 54-year-old has struggled to meet those expectations.

Under increasing pressure, Ten Hag’s United have won just two of their first five Premier League matches, suffering a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton and a 3-0 home loss to arch-rivals Liverpool.

The Red Devils’ struggles haven’t been limited to domestic competitions. Despite competing in Europe’s second tier, United have had a disappointing start to the tournament.

According to a recent report from TBR Football, Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at home against FC Twente on Wednesday night did little to relieve the pressure on Erik Ten Hag, with the 20-time league champions reportedly weighing their options.

Controversial figure among top candidates
The former Ajax manager is on shaky ground, and if the club’s decision-makers choose to part ways with him, Gareth Southgate is expected to emerge as the ‘leading candidate’ for the position.

The 54-year-old, who stepped down as England manager after the Euros final defeat to Spain, is highly regarded by Sir David Brailsford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s close associate, and sporting director Dan Ashworth.

The trio will be responsible for determining Ten Hag’s future and selecting a potential successor, and given their high regard for Southgate, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former Middlesbrough defender offered one of football’s toughest roles.

However, the possibility of Southgate taking over at Old Trafford is likely to divide fans. The former England manager has faced heavy criticism in recent years for his inability to lead the Three Lions to their first major trophy since 1966, despite reaching three of the last four finals.