Roberto De Zerbi on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Erik ten Hag replacement list at Man United

Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United continues to be in doubt following inconsistent results so far this season.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS now at the helm of all sporting activities at Manchester United, there is growing pressure on Erik ten Hag.

Despite winning seven of their nine games across 2024, a recent loss against Fulham in the Premier League has cast the Dutch manager’s job into further doubt, and potential replacements are now circling the media.

Read More: Erik ten Hag has a Man United “weapon” to unleash against Manchester City

According to the Manchester Evening News, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is under consideration by Ratcliffe to become United’s next manager should they sack Erik ten Hag.

This comes alongside other rumours that the INEOS group also like Graham Potter, who most recently managed Chelsea.

An issue with De Zerbi is that the club would likely have to pay Brighton a release clause to prize him away from the southern club, although the exact figure of this clause is currently unknown.

However, a report from Sport earlier this week claimed that this release clause is around £12.8 million (€15 million), and Barcelona are considering trying to grab De Zerbi this summer.

Barcelona are just one of multiple top clubs looking for new managers this summer, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool also on the hunt as Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp are set to leave their respective clubs this summer.

United fell to a 3-1 against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and City manager Pep Guardiola was full or praise for De Zerbi last year.

“There is no team playing the way they play – it’s unique,” The Spaniard said. “I had the feeling when he arrived the impact he would have in the Premier League would be great – I didn’t expect him to do it in this short space of time.

“He creates 20 or 25 chances per game, better by far than most opponents. He monopolises the ball in a way it hasn’t been for a long time. They deserve completely the success they have.”