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As the noose around Erik ten Hag’s neck tightens, Manchester United have been linked with just about every top manager under the sun except perhaps Jurgen Klopp.
The next most unlikely candidate, at least from an arch-rivals’ perspective, is now in the picture if reports from Spain (via The Faithful) are to be believed.
Former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso is arguably the most coveted young manager in the world after leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unlikely Bundesliga title – by a canter – and almost completing an unbeaten season in all competitions until they fell at the final hurdle to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final.
The mere mention of Alonso’s name has United fans waving their hands away in a “he’d never come” gesture, but this has not dissuaded Ineos from trying, according to the report.
United’s part-owners are aware that he would not leave the German side in midseason, but he is their top priority and they are prepared to wait until the end of this campaign to get his signature, it is claimed.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have also been linked with the Spaniard’s signature and it is hard to imagine why he would opt for United unless he wanted to give himself undoubtedly the biggest challenge in football.
It has become something of a poison chalice, although Ineos will argue that things will be different with their management team now in place.
The situation will become more feasible if Ten Hag were to stumble on until beyond Christmas, but that is looking increasingly unlikely and a loss to Aston Villa tomorrow could even be the straw that broke the camel’s back where his new masters are concerned.
Almost by chance, a pow-wow involving the executive team at Old Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer is scheduled for Tuesday, at which point Ten Hag’s immediate future is likely to be decided.
If he is sacked, there is an obvious interim candidate in his assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The former PSV manager is an Old Trafford legend and would be welcomed by the fans. He is also believed to be very popular with the current playing staff.
However, Ineos may want Ten Hag’s entire team to go with him, in which case, putting in an interim cold, at the beginning of October, to wait until June for Alonso would seem a very risky policy indeed.
Featured image Lars Baron via Getty Images
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