Gareth Southgate is Manchester United’s “number one choice” to succeed Erik ten Hag, but the England manager’s reluctance to talk about his future prior to EURO 2024 is making the decision more and more difficult to make.
According to Miguel Delaney of The Independent, Southgate is seen by United management as a coach who, like with the Three Lions, can serve as the “figurehead for a wider cultural change” at Old Trafford.
Sir Dave Brailsford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s right-hand man, and Dan Ashworth, who is now waiting to join United because no deal has been reached with Newcastle on his departure, are rumoured to be in support of him.
In addition, there would be an emphasis on assembling a “strong coaching staff” to assist Southgate; this might be interpreted as senior Old Trafford officials acknowledging that the 53-year-old’s managerial abilities are stronger in team building and standard-setting than in tactics and training.
However, Southgate is just thinking about the England team for this summer’s tournament, therefore he won’t entertain discussions about his future professional move.
In a recent interview, the 53-year-old coach was asked about reports linking him with a return to club football, but his response was firm: “If I start talking about that, then I’m already distracted from what I’m doing. So I think the country would expect that my focus is on England, and rightly so.”
And while there is widespread belief Southgate would be “open to the job” at Old Trafford, it is a significant risk for INEOS to make the decision to sack Ten Hag without being able to immediately engage in contract talks with their first-choice option to replace the Dutchman.
It’s for this reason, Delaney contends, that there is a delay over the “first big call” of the INEOS era.
But given the Euros final takes place on July 14, and England are overwhelmingly likely to go deep into the knockout stages, the reporter reveals, “there is the possibility that the identity of next season’s manager drags out for weeks.”
From Ten Hag’s perspective, the 54-year-old is hoping to continue as manager but appears to be growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of certainty over his future. Delaney indicates Ten Hag is “now pushing for clarity” over a decision and sources at Old Trafford reveal there remains the possibility he could still yet leave my mutual consent.
United have made contact with a range of candidates should a pursuit of Southgate fail.
Representatives of Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Thomas Frank have all been approached by the club but none of the three have “completely persuaded the hierarchy that this was a move they must make.”
Delaney reveals Frank “has particularly impressed” but that Tuchel has “fallen down the list” due to differences in outlook with United thought to be focused on “building something for the long-term”, with the German coach more of a short-term solution.
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