Man Utd board's four potential options to replace Erik ten Hag after shambolic Newcastle defeat
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is hanging onto his job by a thread after Newcastle defeat
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Manchester United thought Erik ten Hag would bring back the glory days when they appointed the Dutchman in May last year.
However, fast-forward to now, and the Dutchman's long-term future at the club is currently up in the air.
United won the Carabao Cup under Ten Hag last season, while also finishing third in the Premier League table.
Ever since the beginning of the campaign, however, they've crumbled.
Man Utd were crushed by Newcastle in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup showdown
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There have been several lows this season, from Sunday's catastrophic derby defeat to Manchester City to the way they were dismantled by the likes of Bayern Munich and Galatasaray in Europe.
Yet Wednesday night's Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle was the biggest of them all.
United were poor, managing just two shots on target. More players wore the captain's armband that night than that.
Newcastle were deserved winners, with Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall and Joe Willock all finding the net to send them through to the quarter-finals.
United have insisted they back Ten Hag. The reality is, however, that defeat after defeat has made his long-term future at the club uncertain.
GB News now takes a look at four options the board could turn to if they end up relieving the former Ajax boss of his duties.
Zinedine Zidane
Back in 2018, when there was talk of Jose Mourinho leaving United, the club were heavily linked with Zinedine Zidane.
The Frenchman was available at the time, having opted to leave Real Madrid following a third Champions League triumph on the trot.
In the end, however, United went with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Norwegian impressed during an interim spell in the dugout.
Zidane, like five years ago, is a free agent.
He has never played or managed in the Premier League but the work he did over in Spain means he's considered one of the best managers on the planet.
Whether he'd want to risk damaging his reputation by going to Old Trafford, however, remains to be seen.
Graham Potter
Graham Potter would potentially be an appointment that would anger fans of the club.
His reputation has been damaged after a poor spell at Chelsea. However, it would be wrong to suggest he's a bad manager because of a difficult period at Stamford Bridge.
Potter achieved great things at Brighton, helping the club punch well above their weight.
United board members are admirers of the 48-year-old and there's been chatter that, with Potter available, they could act.
It wouldn't excite fans but Potter's personable nature could help him earn the trust of a disgruntled dressing room.
Antonio Conte
United opted to gamble by bringing in the combative Mourinho back in 2018.
Scarred by that experience, they have resisted calls to go for another difficult character in Antonio Conte.
Conte is demanding, both of staff and players.
Yet his CV speaks for itself having won trophies at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan during his managerial career.
United want to win. They're desperate to win.
And when it comes to doing that, Conte ticks all the boxes. Whether he'd be too similar to Mourinho, however, is unclear.
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Gareth Southgate
Man Utd could be tempted to go for Antonio Conte or Graham Potter if Erik ten Hag ends up losing his job
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United are also known to appreciate the work Gareth Southgate has done with the England national team.
It's hard to see him leaving his post with the Three Lions before the European Championships next summer.
There is a sense, however, that Southgate's time with England is drawing to a close.
He isn't expected to stay at the Euros - meaning there's a possibility United will try and act in the event of any Ten Hag sacking.
Again, it's hard to see this one happening at the current moment in time. Stranger things have happened in football, however...
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