The Premier League’s managerial merry-go-round: How the playing cards may fall with World Cup bosses’ contracts expiring, newest sackings and potential exits on the horizon

With Tottenham sacking Thomas Frank on the same day Roberto De Zerbi left Marseille, a matter of hours before Sean Dyche was fired by Nottingham Forest and Thomas Tuchel signed a contract extension with England, the managerial merry-go-round is spinning out of control.

For months there has been chatter around the coaches who will become available after the conclusion of this summer’s World Cup, with murmurings of Manchester United sniffing around them. Tuchel, now, is off the table.

Yet United, who currently have Michael Carrick in interim charge, may not be the only club looking for a new boss come the end of the season. 

There has been talk of this being Pep Guardiola’s last season at Manchester City, while Arne Slot is currently under increasing pressure from a restless Liverpool support who are furious at how their club have defended their Premier League title.

Not to mention Forest, who are on the hunt for their fourth manager of the season after having already churned through Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Dyche. And what to make of Crystal Palace, who will be looking to replace their FA Cup-winning boss Oliver Glasner in the summer?

With the likes of Xabi Alonso available in the free market and the contracts of Fulham boss Marco Silva and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola expiring, as well as the biggest names at the World Cup like Mauricio Pochettino, Daily Mail Sport analyses the English sides potentially looking for a new boss next season, and how the cards may fall in what looks set to be a frenetic post-season scramble.

Manchester United

Four wins out of five for Carrick after taking over from Ruben Amorim has United in a great place. The Red Devils, currently fourth in the Premier League, have a real chance at making Champions League football now.

Considering they finished 15th in a miserable season last year, the improvement is undeniable and the football the Englishman has his side playing has been impressive.

Yet, there remains a feeling he will not be in the Old Trafford dugout next season.  Former club captain Gary Neville revealed that the club have already begun the search for a new permanent boss and, while he said Carrick would be considered if he was to put his name forward, United are clearly exploring their options.

Of the managers at the World Cup, Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has been one name linked. Though at just 38 years old and of a similar ilk to Ralf Rangnick, who was unimpressed with the club’s structure, that seems like it could be unlikely.

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti is another whose name is regularly flirted with the hotseat. At 66 years old, having won everything there is to win, he may fancy a crack at United – it certainly wouldn’t tarnish his legacy even if he were to fail.

The strongest suggestions at the moment surround De Zerbi, who Daily Mail Sport understands has numerous admirers within Old Trafford.

Eddie Howe would also be an interesting choice too, with the Newcastle boss having thought about his future in recent weeks, concluding he is the determined to make it work at St James’ Park. But if that situation changes, United would surely pick up the phone.

Manchester City

Despite Guardiola himself playing down speculation that he will leave City at the end of the season, the noise remains.

Though the Catalan has one year left on his contract at the Etihad, the club is believed to have drawn up a potential list of candidates to replace their greatest-ever boss at the end of the season.

As previously reported by Daily Mail Sport, former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany are among those well-liked by City chiefs.

Maresca, for the impression he made as assistant to Guardiola, while Kompany would represent the ‘coming home’ appointment they dreamed of when Abu Dhabi started to build the modern City back in 2008. Alonso, too, is admired.

The key decision for City is how they follow up a footballing great like Guardiola, while also planning for the future of the club.

Considering Maresca worked in such close proximity with the City boss, and has since gone on to have success with Leicester City and Chelsea, the appeal is clear.

But Kompany too has boots-on-the-ground experience having captained City as a player. He has also now impressed as a manager in his own right, particularly on the European stage this season with Bayern.

Liverpool 

It would certainly be peculiar for a manager to be sacked the season after winning the Premier League, but Liverpool boss Slot has been facing those calls from some of his own fans for months now.

Having splashed out around £450million in the summer to bolster an already strong team, the Reds faithful had expected more than to find their club in sixth place, with the likes of Brentford hot on their heels.

Yet, this is where Slot is. And he knows the pressure he is under, admitting himself there are ‘no guarantees’ his job would be safe if Liverpool fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Should that happen, the clear favourite to make a triumphant Anfield return would be the club’s former midfielder Alonso.

Despite it not working out for the Spaniard at Real Madrid, his incredible 2023-2024 season with Bayer Leverkusen – in which they went unbeaten in winning a domestic double – is still fresh in the memory of top European clubs. 

Alonso’s son was born in Merseyside and he has made no secret of his love for the club many years after departing, so a return would surely appeal if the opportunity arose.

For now, Slot remains well in contention to qualify for the Champions League, but it will not be easy for his inconsistent Reds.

Tottenham Hotspur

Frank’s departure from north London had seemed inevitable for weeks, so it was of little surprise when the Dane was put out of his misery on Tuesday morning.

He leaves Spurs in 16th in the Premier League, just two points above Forest – who have themselves been embroiled in chaos this season – and five above West Ham in the relegation zone.

Having also finished 17th in the Premier League last year, although with a Europa League trophy to boot under Postecoglou, it has been two seasons of domestic turmoil for the club.

So, who to turn to? With assistant coach Johnny Heitinga being considered as an interim until the end of the season, all roads lead to a romantic reunion with Pochettino.

Yet, it would surely be remiss of Spurs not to consider other options, such as Fulham boss Silva and Bournemouth manager Iraola, both of whom have been terrific for their clubs. 

Club favourite Robbie Keane, currently managing at Ferencvaros in Hungary, is another name who has come under consideration. Meanwhile, De Zerbi is known to have admirers within the club, with his name advanced for the job by former sporting director Fabio Paratici when Postecoglou was sacked last year, and again before Christmas when Frank was struggling. However, he earned a reputation for combustibility during two seasons at Brighton, only enhanced by his tempestuous exit from Marseille.

Pochettino will be the bookmakers’ favourite, especially if Heitinga is installed until the end of this campaign, with the USA boss out of contract after this summer’s World Cup.

Nottingham Forest 

It is hardly an appealing prospect to take over at the City Ground right now, but Forest are in dire need for a boss – their fourth of the season.

Nuno was sacked after just three games this season, on the back of a successful 2024-25 campaign, while Postecoglou lasted just eight games and Dyche managed 17.

With the club just above the Premier League relegation zone and fighting for their lives in a scrap with West Ham, it is clear that the club need to move quickly.

As Daily Mail Sport reported following Dyche’s sacking, former Wolves boss Vitor Pereira is at this stage the frontrunner to take charge. 

It would make sense after all, considering the Portuguese – although sacked by Wolves in November – did an outstanding job steering them to safety last campaign.

Keane has also been linked with the job, but it would be peculiar for the former Republic of Ireland international to leave a good thing mid-season to take over at Forest given their tendency to sack managers at ease.

Pereira seems the obvious choice at this stage. 

Crystal Palace 

Glasner couldn’t have timed the announcement of his departure much worse, in all honesty. 

The Austrian had been offered a new contract but, unhappy at Selhurst Park, knocked back the advances and told a press conference he plans on leaving at the end of the season – on the same day club captain Marc Guehi joined Man City.

He has since been outspoken about feeling unsupported by the club’s hierarchy regarding transfers, including selling assets like Eberechi Eze and Guehi without, what he feels, are adequate replacements.

But Palace still remains a tantalising prospect for many managers looking for a new job.

Frank, having excelled at a similar profile of club in Brentford, has been linked with the job. Yet the Dane may not be ready to drop down a level, having been interviewed for the United and Chelsea jobs prior to taking over Spurs.

Other names known to British fans on the bookmakers’ favourites include Wales boss Craig Bellamy, who has admirers within the game and has been linked with club jobs including Celtic in recent months.

It would be also be a coup for Palace to land a name like Iraola or Silva, but they may view leaving Fulham and Bournemouth for the Eagles as a side-step, rather than a leap up.