Erik ten Hag sack deadline ‘revealed’ amid Manchester United 'chat' with Mauricio Pochettino

Manchester United are still yet to make a final decision on Erik ten Hag’s future more than two weeks after the FA Cup final win.

The Manchester Evening News understands that the Dutchman could be kept on as boss despite reports elsewhere that he was due to be sacked after the visit to Wembley. Recent speculation suggests that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been sourcing potential replacements.

Thomas Tuchel was supposedly spoken to but has since withdrawn his interest. Meanwhile, it is said that United hold interest in Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino, who respectively left Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea at the end of the season.

Sack decision timeline ‘outlined’

United will make their final call over whether to sack Ten Hag by the end of this week, reports The Times. It says that there is an expectation that the matter will soon be resolved ahead of an announcement in due course, with the Dutchman now back from his holiday.

Ten Hag has won two trophies in two years but exited the Champions League before Christmas before recording United’s worst-ever Premier League finish in May. It says the agents of Pochettino and Brentford boss Thomas Frank have already been spoken to, albeit this does not necessarily indicate a sack decision.

MEN Sport’s Isaac Johnson says: Waiting any longer than this week to make a decision on Ten Hag seems unwise given the transfer window opens on Friday. The indication that there has been a delay says that Ratcliffe is, at best, reluctant to keep Ten Hag on.

Pochettino arrival ‘unlikely’

Pochettino is currently unemployed but is unlikely to be hired at United, according to The Telegraph. The Argentine was initially among the candidates for the role before Ten Hag was hired in 2022.

But a new hierarchy has now been installed, with several former executives shown the door and the likes of new CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox taking their place. Talks have taken place with Pochettino’s camp, the report says, but it seems as though a deal will not be forthcoming.

MEN Sport’s Isaac Johnson says: All indications seem to indicate that Ten Hag might retain his job, if these reports are true. There are few other feasible options out there aside from Tuchel and Pochettino, while an approach for De Zerbi seems riskier - even if more exciting - than keeping Ten Hag. Although clearly not categorical, the longer time goes on, the likelier Ten Hag stays.