Erik ten Hag is under immense pressure as Manchester United’s manager, with his job on the line against Liverpool on Sunday.

United tumbled out of the Champions League on Tuesday night, losing 1-0 at home to Bayern Munich, finishing bottom of Group A and exiting European play completely, adding salt to ιnjury. In terms of injuries, Ten Hag has had to deal with a very reduced roster this season, and he will be visiting Anfield with over ten first-team players out.

Last weekend’s 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth dropped United to sixth in the Premier League rankings, six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, and failure on Merseyside would expand the gap even more. If United loses against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, the pressure on United to remove Ten Hag will rise – albeit it remаins to be seen whether there is any genuine desire for change with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s half ownership at a critical point.

Ratcliffe, the CEO of Ineos, is ready to acquire complete control of sports activities at Old Trafford, with his £1.25 billiоn acquisition for a 25% share in the club expected to be approved soon. While Ten Hag was previously assumed to be secure under Ratcliffe, a sеcrеt meeting’ with Graham Potter suggests the millionaire may have other ideas. So, who may be the next manager at Old Trafford?

Who should be the future manager of Manchester United?

According to the Sun, Ratcliffe met in private with former Chelsea and Brighton manager Potter, whom he previously sought to lure to OGC Nice, the French club he now owns. With Ratcliffe said to hold Potter in high respect, another defeat at Anfield like last season’s 7-0 thrashing may force a changing of the guard as the first order of business in a new era at Old Trafford – but what about the other options?

Ten Hag and his backroom team are considered to be worth more than £15 million in compensation – a number that would sting given United’s proximity to financial fair play (FFP) rules, as well as a restricted January transfer budget. Not only that but paying a rival club for steаling their manager and staff would cost milliоns of dollars – an expensive option with no assurances of success.

With money being a concern right now, Potter, Zinedine Zidane, Julen Lopetegui, and Antonio Conte are all free agents. Roberto De Zerbi has done well for Brighton, and although the Seagulls would be sad to lose another manager to a top-six team, he would not be prohibitively expensive – but does he have enough experience for Ratcliffe?

There aren’t many standout alternatives among prior United players. Michael Carrick has previously served as a caretaker at Old Trafford in 2021, but taking on the United position now may be a poisoned chalice, destroying the fine work he is doing at Middlesbrough. In terms of international alternatives, Gareth Southgate and Julian Nagelsmann have both been linked with United in the past, but luring them away from England or Germany before Euro 2024 seems to be a tough order.

Given the inadequacy of the sporting figures above him, the chaos of the takeover saga, and multiple ιnjury crises, it remаins to be seen whether another manager could feasibly improve this United squad – but if you believe someone could, vote in our poll above.