Ex-Premier League boss 'could replace Ten Hag' and has backing of three players
Manchester United are reportedly keeping an eye on Julen Lopetegui as pressure builds on Erik ten Hag.
United were knocked out of Europe on Tuesday night as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford. It was their 12th defeat from 24 games in all competitions and their seventh at home already in a dreadful start to the campaign.
Ten Hag needs an upturn in results quickly, but with a trip to Anfield coming in the Premier League on Sunday, things are unlikely to get much easier. His future is up in the air, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to take over at United once his £1.3billion deal for 25 per cent of the club is ratified.
A report from Spanish outlet Relevo says ‘patience has run out’ with Ten Hag and possible alternatives are being considered. Surprisingly, Lopetegui is at the top of that list, ahead of the likes of former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, ex-Chelsea manager Graham Potter and Brighton ’s Roberto De Zerbi.
The report says United ‘value the work’ Lopetegui did at Wolves, as well as his grasp of English and previous experience in both the Premier League and Europe, where he won the Europa League with Sevilla. Lopetegui has been without a job since leaving Wolves in August, bringing an end to his nine-month stay at the club following a disagreement.
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The 57-year-old, who has also coached Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla, recently turned down an offer of €18m (£15.5m) per season from Saudi Arabia because he wants another job in the Premier League, where he is said to have fallen in love with the English culture. Lopetegui took charge of Wolves before the winter break last season, taking them from 20th place to 13th.
His chances of taking over at United are helped by his existing relationships with Sergio Reguilon, Casemiro and Raphael Varane. He worked with all three at Real Madrid and, although he was only in the top job for a short time, his training style is well regarded. Interestingly, he also has a ‘fantastic’ relationship with David de Gea, the goalkeeper who was jettisoned for Andre Onana in the summer and remains without a club.
Ten Hag is under contract until June 2025 and was hired in April 2022 with the understanding he was taking over a long-term project. There is some understanding that the poor recent performances have been influenced by injuries, with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Casemiro, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and others missing from the Bayern defeat on Tuesday.
But United have invested heavily in the squad since Ten Hag arrived, signing Martinez and Antony on his recommendation from his former club Ajax, as well as Onana from Inter Milan. United are sixth in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of leaders Liverpool ahead of their match on Sunday.
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