Fabrizio Romano has downplayed the likelihood of Manchester United making a move to appoint Zinedine Zidane as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag, despite claims that incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth is eyeing a former Chelsea boss as his top candidate.
Ten Hag’s second season at Manchester United hasn’t gone as planned, with the team facing one crisis after another. Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League and 11 points adrift from the top four, they are in danger of missing out on their primary objective of securing a Champions League spot for next season. Pressure has mounted on Ten Hag, who has been unable to replicate the success of his first season in charge.
Many at Old Trafford reportedly see Ten Hag as a ‘dead man walking’, with senior players allegedly losing faith in him. Roy Keane has expressed concerns about the direction of the club, particularly after their recent defeat to Manchester City.
While Zidane has been mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Ten Hag, Romano stresses that there have been no concrete contacts between Zidane and Manchester United so far. Instead, Ashworth is believed to have recommended Graham Potter, who previously managed Brighton and had a stint at Chelsea.
Despite Potter’s struggles at Chelsea, he is highly regarded for his work at Brighton, and Ashworth sees his style of football as a good fit for United. Reports suggest that Potter is favored by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir David Brailsford, and secret talks have allegedly taken place between Potter and Ashworth regarding the United managerial position.
While Zidane has an impressive track record at Real Madrid, there are doubts about his interest in managing in England. Thomas Gravesen, Zidane’s former teammate, has indicated that Zidane would only consider returning to management for certain clubs, none of which include Manchester United.
In summary, while Zidane’s name has been mentioned, Potter seems to be a strong candidate for the United managerial position if Ten Hag were to be replaced.