Manchester United officials have reportedly already identified their ideal replacement for Erik ten Hag if he is sacked following the humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United officials have reportedly identified their preferred replacement for Erik ten Hag in the event they choose to part ways with him following the disappointing 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The loss marked a significant low in Ten Hag’s tenure, with Spurs clearly outperforming United at Old Trafford. Following the match, speculation about Ten Hag’s future intensified, with names such as Gareth Southgate and Ruud van Nistelrooy emerging as potential successors.

However, reports indicate that the United board has already singled out a specific candidate to step in if Ten Hag is let go. Prior to the season, the club’s new co-owners, INEOS, allegedly met with several high-profile managers while considering a change after United’s poor eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season, which was their worst since the league’s creation in 1992.

One notable figure discussed was former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel. According to a July report from *The Daily Mail*, Tuchel has become the frontrunner if Ten Hag is dismissed. Although Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team initially decided to retain Ten Hag, they were impressed by Tuchel’s vision for revitalizing United’s status in European football.

At that time, Tuchel reportedly sought a short break from the sport after a challenging period at Bayern Munich, which appeared to take him out of consideration. However, three months later, circumstances may have changed, and United could target Tuchel again if they decide to terminate Ten Hag’s contract after the Spurs match.

Despite the mounting speculation, Ten Hag remains assured in his role. Following the defeat, he informed reporters that neither he nor the club’s management is considering a change.

“No, I am not thinking about this. We all decided to stay united as an ownership and leadership group during the summer,” Ten Hag stated.

“We are all aligned and working together—the ownership, the leadership group, the staff, and the players. I don’t have that concern.”