Man Utd have a brand new four-man shortlist after Xavi talks if Erik ten Hag is sacked

Manchester United have pinpointed four potential successors to Erik ten Hag, should they decide on a managerial shake-up.

The Dutchman is feeling the heat as the Red Devils languish in the lower half of the table, having only clinched three victories from their eight matches. Sir Jim Ratcliffe contemplated a switch in the summer but decided to back Ten Hag, although poor results could prompt a rethink.

Xavi is one of several managers on their radar, with discussions allegedly taking place with the former Barcelona star turned gaffer. The Spaniard, who had a trophy-studded playing career, recently parted ways with his childhood club.

During his tenure at Nou Camp, he secured the La Liga title.

His style of play could also make him a desirable candidate, especially given his current availability. Edin Terzic, another manager currently without a club, is also under consideration by the Manchester bigwigs, reports the Mirror.

Terzic guided Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season, causing upsets against heavyweights like Atletico Madrid and PSG. Despite leaving after their final loss, his performance caught the eye of those at Old Trafford, according to the Daily Mail.

Ruben Amorim is another rising managerial star who has been turning heads across Europe.

The Portuguese coach has transformed Sporting Lisbon into a powerhouse in Portugal, defeating both Porto and Benfica, and has been instrumental in discovering several talents, including United’s summer recruit Manuel Ugarte.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is the fourth candidate on United’s shortlist. The club’s ex-striker was brought in during the summer to assist Ten Hag.

He has stayed alongside Ten Hag on the Manchester bench, and is likely to step in initially if the current manager gets the boot.

Reports suggest that Van Nistelrooy himself, who boasts managerial experience from his stint at PSV, is believed to have doubts about stepping into Ten Hag’s shoes. Given he was brought in to support the manager, he doesn’t want to appear as profiting from his downfall.

Despite United’s chief communications officer confessing at a fan forum meeting last week that the club are “not happy” with their recent form, Ten Hag has remained unyielding.

Toby Craig, who transferred from Chelsea over the summer, stated: “Clearly we are not happy with the men’s first team’s start to the season and results are not where we want them to be. There is a huge amount of change going on.”