Excl: Man Utd Make First Contact With Thomas Tuchel

Erik ten Hag will effectively be on trial over the next weeks as Manchester United’s new technical director Jason Wilcox conducts an audit of the manager’s credentials and dressing room relations before the club makes a final decision on the Dutchman’s future.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly held initial talks with Thomas Tuchel about taking over as Manchester United boss.

With three games to go, the Red Devils are on 54 points and have dropped to eighth. As such, it’s not possible for them to get close to last season’s tally.

They also bowed out of both the Champions League and the League Cup at early stages, and while they’re in the FA Cup final, Championship Coventry took them to penalties.

There has been a ‘huge’ development in the hunt for a new Manchester United manager, with interest in Thomas Tuchel growing, as some players would reportedly ‘love’ to play for him.

Indeed, Erik ten Hag’s second season has not lived up to the promise of the first one in any way, and with an ambitious part-owner in Sir Jim Ratcliffe now in control of footballing operations, the Dutchman could be cut loose.

Multiple reports have suggested he’ll be gone by the summer, with Ratcliffe already having deciding to pull the trigger.

The German boss seems to have a lot going for him in regards to a move to United beyond just the fact that he’d be open to it himself.

Indeed, it seems United’s players are also raring to work under him.

According to Football Insider, many of United’s players would ‘love to play for’ Tuchel, and as such he’d immediately command their respect.

And a number of big names seem to be on the list to replace Ten Hag.

Of late, Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel have looked the most likely options, with Fabrizio Romano revealing the latter would jump at the chance to return to the Premier League.