Ratcliffe has reportedly made the decision to dismiss Ten Hag, as Manchester United initiate discussions with a Premier League manager. Jaap Stam elaborates on the reasons behind the club’s decline.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the head of Manchester United, has reportedly made the decision to terminate Erik ten Hag’s contract by the end of the season.

He has identified a current Premier League manager as his preferred replacement. Additionally, Jaap Stam has weighed in on Ten Hag’s shortcomings.

Manchester United has experienced a challenging season under Ten Hag, failing to build upon their initial progress under his leadership.

The team’s premature exit from the Champions League and their position well below the top four in the Premier League underscore the difficulties they’ve faced.

While they managed to narrow the gap with fourth-placed Aston Villa recently, reclaiming a top-four spot remains a considerable challenge.

Pressure has mounted on Ten Hag, especially with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s ambitious new minority shareholder, exerting more influence.

There have been reports indicating that many within the club view Ten Hag’s departure as inevitable, with speculation about his potential replacement gaining traction.

However, dismissing Ten Hag would come at a significant financial cost to the club, necessitating careful financial management.

Amidst the speculation, reports have emerged suggesting that Roberto De Zerbi is Ratcliffe’s top choice to succeed Ten Hag.

Negotiations with De Zerbi have allegedly begun, with Ratcliffe reportedly interfering with Barcelona’s search for a new coach.

De Zerbi’s interest in the position has been acknowledged, although he remains focused on his current role at Brighton.

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has shared his perspective on Ten Hag’s struggles. He believes that Ten Hag has been unable to implement his preferred style of play at the club, partly due to various injuries affecting team morale. Stam hopes that Ten Hag can address these issues and turn the team’s fortunes around.

Manchester United faces a critical period ahead, including an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool and pivotal Premier League fixtures against Brentford, Chelsea, and Liverpool.