Man Utd draw up nine-man list of potential Erik ten Hag replacements including three Premier League managers

Manchester United have drawn up a nine-man list of potential Erik ten Hag replacements, it has been claimed.

Ten Hag’s chances of remaining United boss beyond the end of the current campaign have been boosted by his side’s dramatic 4-3 FA Cup win over Liverpool last weekend.

Nevertheless, ESPN claim that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a nine-man list of potential replacements for the Dutchman should he opt to make a change in the summer.

The publication alleges that Ratcliffe has made England boss Gareth Southgate his No.1 choice to replace Ten Hag, despite the Three Lions manager having publicly refuted links to the United job earlier this week.

Southgate, whose contract at England expires in December, said: "I think there are two things from my point of view. One is that I'm the England manager, I've got one job basically -- to try and deliver a European Championship. Clearly before that, there are two important games this week.

"Second thing is, Manchester United have a manager and I think it is always completely disrespectful when there is a manager in place. I'm president of the LMA [League Managers' Association] so I don't have any time for that sort of thing, really."

However, according to ESPN, Ratcliffe has a further nine names on his managerial candidate list should Southgate not be keen. Among the managers being considered is allegedly former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter.

Southgate pushed back against reports linking him to Man Utd (Getty)

Meanwhile, Potter's successor as Brighton Roberto De Zerbi is also said to be on the list alongside Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

Thomas Tuchel, who is set to depart Bayern Munich at the end of the season, is another allegedly being considered, as is Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann.

Former Real managers Julen Lopetegui and Zinedine Zidane are also on the list alongside Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim.

ESPN also claimed that Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou could also be targeted should United continue the same "aggressive recruitment policy" that saw them poach Omar Berrada from Manchester City and appointed him the club's chief executive.

Topics: Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.