Manchester United make contact with promising young manager

As the end of the season approaches, speculation surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future will continue to dominate the back pages.

Manchester United are almost certainly not going to qualify for next season’s Champions League and as things stand, a place in the Europa League is even under threat.

United could salvage some face from this season by winning the FA Cup but first, they must beat Coventry City in this weekend’s semi-final before going head-to-head against Chelsea or Manchester City in next month’s final.

The mood around the club is lower than it has been in a long time and Ten Hag is under increasing pressure to keep his job, with the club fleetingly linked with other managers.

Earlier on Saturday, former Arsenal defender and now pundit Paul Merson argued that Carlo Ancelotti would fit in at Old Trafford.

Merson argued that although Ancelotti is a ‘quick fix’, the highly decorated Italian would get a tune out of the current squad.

Now, there have been reports linking United with a move for another Italian – Bologna manager Thiago Motta. The former Paris Saint-Germain star has impressed in the Serie A, with his side currently en route to reserving a seat at Europe’s fine dining table.

CaughtOffside have provided an update on the situation surrounding United’s managerial post, with Motta named as one of the alternatives being considered.

As per the report, Gareth Southgate and Roberto De Zerbi are among the names in the hat but neither manager is tipped to take over after Ten Hag.

Instead, it is claimed that contact has already been made with Motta, with Barcelona also said to be in the running to sign the 41-year-old.

Additionally, it is claimed that Motta is yet to make a decision and his future is open, disregarding any claims that he has already agreed to stay at Bologna or take over at Juventus this summer.

At Old Trafford, there have been no signs that Ten Hag’s job is in any immediate danger but it is fair to assume that that is something INEOS will assess at the end of the season.