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14th May 2024
05:08pm BST
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has emerged as a strong contender to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
A report by The Telegraph suggests that, while a decision has not yet been made on Ten Hag, the Dane has admirers at the club.
Frank has overseen the Bees for the past six years, gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and finishing as high as 9th with the London club.
The report also states that the 50-year-old already has an existing relationship with United co-owners Ineos and director of sport Dave Brailsford from before the investment.
Frank is currently Brentford's manager. However, if he were to take over at United, he would be given the position of head coach, fitting in alongside sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Reports last week suggested that the future of Ten Hag was ‘causing a dressing room collapse’.
While the Dutchman is expected to be in charge of the club until the end of the current season, his future beyond next month is still up in the air.
According to the Daily Mail, United bosses have been unwilling to make a snap decision which has left players feeling uncertain and is undermining the manager’s control of the squad.
As well as Frank, six other names have reportedly been drawn up as potential replacements, including Michel of Girona, who currently sit in third place in La Liga, Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi, and Bologna’s Thiago Motta.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim is also appreciated as a young and exciting European coach.
Both England manager Gareth Southgate and former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter are also appreciated by higher-ups at United, but questions remain over their ability to command a dressing room.
United currently sit in 8th place in the Premier League and face Newcastle at Old Trafford on Wednesday, before sealing off their disappointing league campaign away at Brighton on Sunday.
Ten Hag holds on to a glimmer of hope for success this season, however, when the Red Devils play rivals Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup Final at the end of the month.
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