Report: Gareth Southgate ‘top choice’ to become the next Man United manager

Manchester United have reportedly decided that Gareth Southgate is the ideal candidate to replace Erik ten Hag at the club should the Dutchman leave the club.

Ten Hag’s future at the club has been the source of constant speculation over the last four months, with United reportedly believed to have analysed several options to succeed Ten Hag at the club.

Elsewhere, there had been reports that Ajax would be interested in bringing Ten Hag back to the club should he no longer be United’s manager.

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Southgate, 53, was first linked with the job by ESPN at the start of the month, with his name highlighted alongside both Thomas Frank and Roberto De Zerbi as potential successors to Ten Hag.

Now in the latest report regarding Southgate’s future, the Daily Star has claimed that the current England boss is United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s top choice for the position.

According to the report, Ratcliffe and INEOS’ director of sport, Sir Dave Brailsford, have spoken with several of United’s former players about who they believe should be the next United boss, with Southgate the clear favourite.

Additionally, the report states that Southgate “has the backing of some of United’s current players.” It was also noted that Southgate has the support of Dan Ashworth, the Red Devils’ incoming director of football

If United are to pursue their reported interest in Southgate, then they will face numerous hurdles to clear if such a move is to take place.

Firstly, as noted in the report, the current England boss has refused to discuss his future until after the conclusion of this summer’s Euro 2024 competition.

Southgate’s current contract with England runs until December of this year, with the FA believed to want him to stay on in the role for years to come.

Elsewhere, there will also be the fear of backlash to Southgate’s appointment in the role, with several fans labelling his potential appointment as a “joke” when the news first broke.

The news has come around the same time that Southgate has decided to call Kobbie Mainoo to the England first-team squad for the upcoming internationals against Brazil and Belgium.