Fabrizio Romano has played down the likelihood of Manchester United pursuing Zinedine Zidane as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag, despite claims that incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth has his sights set on a former Chelsea manager as the top candidate.
Ten Hag’s second season at Manchester United has not unfolded as anticipated, with the team encountering numerous crises.
Currently positioned sixth in the Premier League and trailing by 11 points from the top four, they risk missing out on their primary objective of securing a Champions League spot for the next season. Pressure has mounted on Ten Hag, who has struggled to replicate the success of his first season in charge.
Reports from Old Trafford suggest that many view Ten Hag as a ‘dead man walking’, with senior players reportedly losing confidence in him. Roy Keane has voiced concerns about the club’s direction, especially following their recent defeat to Manchester City.
While Zidane has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Ten Hag, Romano emphasizes that there have been no concrete contacts between Zidane and Manchester United thus far.
Instead, Ashworth is said to have proposed Graham Potter, formerly of Brighton and with a stint at Chelsea.
Despite Potter’s challenges at Chelsea, he is highly respected for his work at Brighton, and Ashworth believes his style of play would suit United.
Reports suggest that Potter is favored by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir David Brailsford, and clandestine discussions have reportedly occurred between Potter and Ashworth regarding the United managerial position.
Although Zidane has an impressive track record at Real Madrid, there are doubts about his interest in managing in England. Zidane’s former teammate, Thomas Gravesen, has indicated that Zidane would only consider a return to management for certain clubs, none of which include Manchester United.
In summary, while Zidane’s name has been floated, Potter emerges as a strong contender for the United managerial role if Ten Hag were to be replaced.
