Insiders familiar with the current state of affairs at Manchester United have disclosed to CaughtOffside that the club has initiated preliminary discussions with both Julen Lopetegui and Antonio Conte. These discussions serve as a contingency plan, exploring them as potential candidates in the event of a decision to replace Erik ten Hag at the conclusion of the season.
Despite no immediate inclination to part ways with Ten Hag at this point, concerns have arisen over the team’s performance throughout the season, raising the possibility that the Dutch tactician may not continue at Old Trafford unless there’s a notable improvement in the second half of the campaign.
CaughtOffside has gathered that Lopetegui was recently approached and declined an opportunity to take over as the manager of Al Ittihad. This decision was influenced by the potential opening at Manchester United in the near future. Lopetegui, who was previously linked with Wolves, has expressed a keen interest in managing in England once again, with securing another Premier League position as his priority for the upcoming season. Nottingham Forest had also piqued his interest at one point.
On the other hand, the situation with Conte appears more intricate for United. His preference is understood to be staying in Italy for proximity to his family. While the former Tottenham and Chelsea boss wouldn’t entirely dismiss the prospect of managing in the Premier League again, there’s currently no agreement in place with AC Milan, despite some reports suggesting otherwise.
As Manchester United navigates a crucial juncture in their season, these behind-the-scenes maneuvers underscore the club’s proactive approach in assessing managerial options for potential future scenarios. The decisions regarding Ten Hag’s tenure are likely to hinge on the team’s performance trajectory in the latter part of the campaign, with the club carefully weighing its options to ensure stability and success in the managerial role.