- Erik ten Hag reportedly has three big admirers at the top of the Bundesliga
- Manchester United could consider replacing him with England’s Gareth Southgate
- Brazil in blue – you’ll think yellow and Pele and not Everton – Listen to the podcast It’s All Kicking Off
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Erik ten Hag is reportedly being admired by several top German clubs amid suggestions that Manchester United could be preparing to part ways with the coach.
His future at Old Trafford has come under scrutiny, with new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly eyeing Gareth Southgate as his top target to replace him.
Manchester United have not managed to kick on after last season’s third place. Out of the Champions League and languishing in sixth place, their only chance for silverware is the FA Cup.
Their season has been marked by inconsistency, but that has not deterred several top German clubs from being interested in ten Hag’s services.
According to Daily Starall three of the Bundesliga’s top-performing clubs this season are keen on him.
The Bundesliga’s top clubs this season rate Erik ten Hag as their potential next boss
Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and VFB Stuttgart are all eyeing Ten Hag for next season
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Bayern Munich are keeping an eye on him, while Bayer Leverkusen and VFB Stuttgart are also keen if they lose their coaches.
While Bayern’s main target is Xabi Alonso, they will look at ten Hag if they can’t poach him from Leverkusen.
And should Leverkusen lose Alonso to Bayern or Liverpool, ten Hag is on their radar as a possible replacement.
Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness signed a contract extension this month, but if Bayern missed out on Alonso, they could turn to him instead, which is why they are also eyeing Ten Hag.
While Ten Hag’s stock has come under considerable strain in England, admiration for him seems greater on the Continent.
His five years at Ajax, where he won three Eredivisie titles and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, are not easily forgotten.
In United’s brave new world under Ratcliffe, progress is the name of the game and failure to finish in the Champions League places will be a huge disappointment.
Ratcliffe is increasingly confident of tempting Southgate to Old Trafford after his INEOS sports team trialled United legends.
Bayern’s top target is Xabi Alonso, while Bayer Leverkusen will be keen to hang on to him
Gareth Southgate has emerged as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s wanted men to inherit the United hotseat
Ratcliffe wants to see progress at United and Ten Hag’s job could be at risk this summer
They claim Southgate, who has been England boss since 2016, has the backing of some of United’s current players – and also incoming director of football Dan Ashworth.
Southgate and Ashworth worked together in the Football Association and would reportedly be keen to team up again.
Southgate’s contract with the Three Lions expires in December this year after the European Championships in Germany, with the Football Association keen to get him to extend it.
The star says it will all depend on whether Southgate is willing to walk away from the national team job and the report says it would cost Ratcliffe around £800,000 in compensation.
Southgate, who has been England boss since 2016, has refused to discuss his future beyond the European Championships – but Ratcliffe is understandably keen to get a decision quickly.
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire says England’s players want Southgate to stay for the 2026 World Cup.
