United are keeping their options open.
Manchester United reportedly have drawn up a new four-manager shortlist as they line up potential replacements for Erik ten Hag.
The Old Trafford club are keeping their options open, despite opting against sacking the Dutch coach during the recent international break.
The Red Devils have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, but Ten Hag clung to his job after a review by the club’s decision-makers.
Man United returned from the international break to record a 2-1 win over Brentford at Old Trafford last Saturday and eased the pressure on their under-fire head coach.
Ten Hag isn’t out of the woods yet, however.
According to The Mirror, United have drawn up a new four-manager shortlist in case they decide to part ways with the former Ajax coach.
Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino, two coaches who were previously linked with the position at Old Trafford, have since taken international jobs with England and the United States respectively.
This has reportedly prompted United to re-examine their shortlist.
The new, updated shortlist is reportedly as follows:
Xavi, Ruben Amorim, Edin Terzic, and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Xavi, the former Barcelona manager, reportedly recently met senior figures from Man United to discuss potentially becoming the club’s new manager.
The former Spain manager has been out of work since May when he was sacked as Barca manager. Xavi was in charge at the Camp Nou for two and a half seasons and won the La Liga title in 2023.
Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, is currently Sporting Lisbon’s head coach. The former Portugal midfielder, 39, is highly-rated and was linked with taking over at Liverpool and Chelsea last summer.
Amorim is also said to be on Man City’s shortlist of potential replacements for Pep Guardiola, who is out of contract at the end of the current season.
Edin Terzic was Borussia Dortmund’s manager when they reached the Champions League final last season, where they lost to Real Madrid at Wembley. He left the club after the game.
And Ruud van Nistelrooy is currently Ten Hag’s assistant coach.
The former Netherlands striker is a Man United legend, after spending five years with the club, during which time he helped Alex Ferguson’s side win the Premier League in 2003.
Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 appearances for the Red Devils, before leaving to join Real Madrid in 2006.
As it currently stands, however, it appears that Ten Hag will be given the benefit of the doubt by United bosses, with the job currently his to lose.
