Are Erik ten Hag's days at Manchester United numbered?
According to a recent report, this could be the case as soon-to-be sporting director Dan Ashworth has allegedly held a secret meeting with a potential successor to the Dutchman.
The English football director has not officially arrived at Old Trafford yet but is on gardening leave at Newcastle after communicating his desire to leave St. James' Park for the Red Devils. The Saudi-owned side are holding out for a compensation fee to release him early from his gardening leave, which runs until the January transfer window of 2026, as both parties are expected to reach a compromise.
As a result, this rumored meeting holds tremendous significance. This was revealed by the Sun, with the British tabloid stating that Ashworth met with none other than Graham Potter, the former Chelsea and Brighton head coach.
Potter, who is currently unemployed after being sacked by Chelsea and refusing other offers, worked alongside Ashworth at Brighton and struck up a lovelypartnership. The pair were influential in turning the Seagulls into what they are today and could reunite at the Theatre of Dreams.
This meeting reportedly took place last weekend. While the exact reason behind this meeting was not revealed, a lot can be inferred. Potter is available and is tipped as one of the favorites to replace Ten Hag should the Dutchman be sacked. Additionally, minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his assistant Sir David Brailsford are huge admirers of the aforementioned English tactician.
However, this all hinges on whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who will spearhead Manchester United's football operations, wishes to sack Ten Hag. The Dutchman will oversee his 100th game in charge of Manchester United this weekend in the derby against Manchester City and while his debut season was impressive, things have been disastrous this term.
Rashford and Co. currently sit sixth in the Premier League table with 44 points, three points behind fifth-placed Tottenham and eight adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa. Failure to qualify for UEFA Champions League football could have huge ramifications for the clubs, its ability to strengthen the squad this summer, and the manager's future.
