Man United 'lining up Thomas Tuchel to replace Erik ten Hag'

Manchester United are reportedly interested in replacing Erik ten Hag with former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. 

Ten Hag's future at United is in doubt after their worst ever start to a Premier League season following the drab 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday.

United's senior hierarchy, including part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have a long-standing meeting on Tuesday and the Dutchman's position could be among the key topics discussed.

Ten Hag has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks and the Manchester Evening News has reported the club are lining up Tuchel, 51, just seven games into the new Premier League campaign.

Other candidates for the role are admired by the United hierarchy but the MEN reports Tuchel's availability makes him the prime contender if Ten Hag is to be relieved of his duties.

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The 20-time English champions were interested in Tuchel over the summer after his departure from Bayern Munich and United club chiefs held talks with the German over the role.

But they elected to stay with Ten Hag as they triggered a one-year extension to his deal.

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United are still seemingly considering a move for Tuchel, though, and the German manager is still available.

Ten Hag's position has come under scrutiny once more with his side sitting a lowly 14th place in the Premier League after seven games.

United have won only two league matches thus far, drawing two, and losing three. With just eight points to their name, it is their worst league start since 1989-90 when they went on to finish 13th under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Their latest league encounter was a goalless draw at Villa Park on Sunday, their fifth match on the spin without victory.

When asked about his future following the match, Ten Hag stated that no communications between himself and the United hierarchy have suggested an impending exit.

'So I don't have any idea that is different,' he said. 'They should have told me. We communicate very open, very transparent.

'I speak continuously with them and just after the game I have to do my job, talk with the players, manage the players and answer questions from you. We always talk. Every week, I would say every day we talk, so I expect I will speak with them.'

Prior to the stalemate in Birmingham, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was also pressed about Ten Hag's position at the club.

In an interview with the BBC, Ratcliffe refused to give his full backing to the Dutchman before claiming that it was the new leadership team's role to assess his progress.

'I like Erik, I think he's a very good coach but at the end of the day, it's not my call,' explained Ratcliffe. 'It's the management team that's running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.

'Our objective is very clear. We want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it's not there yet — that's very clear.'

Tuchel's potential appointment would see him return to manage in the Premier League for the first time since leaving Chelsea in 2022.

While in west London, Tuchel lifted the Champions League in his first season at the club. The German also won the Club World Cup during his spell in the English capital.

Tuchel left Bayern in the summer but the club considered a U-turn before appointing Vincent Kompany.