Graham Potter is being considered as a replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Reports suggest that potential investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has held discussions with the former Chelsea executive and is leaning towards appointing him as the new manager at Old Trafford if Ten Hag is dismissed.
Ten Hag’s position is under increasing threat following United’s 1-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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The team’s elimination from Europe marked their lowest-ever group-stage points tally of four, and they failed to qualify for the Europa League, finishing at the bottom of Group A.
The recent poor performances, including a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League, have left fans disillusioned.
The situation could worsen for Ten Hag with a potentially heavy defeat against bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday, reminiscent of the 7-0 humiliation in March.
Notably, Jose Mourinho was sacked by Manchester United after a 3-1 loss to Liverpool in December 2018.
Graham Potter, who hasn’t managed since being dismissed by Chelsea in April, is favored by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, despite turning down an opportunity to manage Championship side Stoke.
Ratcliffe, set to acquire 25% of United next week, is a staunch admirer of Graham Potter, having previously wanted him at French side Nice.
Ten Hag, the fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, faces an uncertain future despite a promising first season. In the previous season, he secured a third-place finish in the Premier League, reached domestic cup finals, and won the Carabao Cup. However, the team’s performance has regressed this season, with 12 losses in 24 games across all competitions.
Financially, the club is set to incur a significant loss of over £20 million following their Champions League exit, as they had budgeted to reach the quarter-finals, factoring in matchday income, TV money, and participation and performance fees.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is suspended for the upcoming Anfield showdown, while defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are doubtful due to injuries sustained against Bayern.
