Brutal warning about when Man Utd Ax will arrive as insiders name top choice to replace him

Erik ten Hag has reportedly been told he has just two games left of being sacked by Manchester United and that defeat in those games could be fatal, while an insider has confirmed the name on standby to to succeed him in the hot seat.

Not much has gone right for Ten Hag this season as Manchester United have won just two of their seven Premier League games so far. The Dutchman is currently in fourteenth place and closer to the relegation zone in terms of points and position than the top four. The Dutchman has come under heavy pressure in recent weeks.

During a meeting last week in London of United’s board members, the future of Ten Hag was at the top of the agenda. And while he has managed to avoid the ax for now, the Dutchman is not out of the woods yet and has been warned that immediate improvement is now needed.

According to a new report from Football insiderThe 54-year-old now has just two games to save his job – and defeat at home to Brentford on Saturday and away to Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday will likely spell the end.

The report adds that Ten Hag is now ‘hanging on’ to his job and that the sacking will be ‘inevitable’ if their form does not turn around and there is a defeat in the next two games.

Former Old Trafford chief scout Mick Brown has also revealed how he was informed that former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is in line to take charge if the ax falls.

“He seems like everyone’s top choice right now,” Brown said Football insider. “It is certainly a possibility and I have heard that Man Utd are listing him as their main target if they decide to offload Ten Hag.

“I think they will try to bring in someone with winning experience at the highest level so he can come in and really make a difference.

“But they also need someone who can deal with their problems off the field.

“He is certainly one of their options, but it will depend on whether he thinks he wants to take the United job as he may have more attractive offers by then.”

DEPTH ~ Next Man Utd manager: EVERY option tipped to replace increasingly doomed Ten Hag

Sack Ten Hag: Man Utd ax only a matter of time if Ratcliffe’s plan is made clear

The newest of Football insider is exactly in line with what we have consistently reported, namely that Ten Hag is in fact a dead man walking around Old Trafford and with sources telling us it is only a matter of time before the ax falls.

We were also the first to break the news that Tuchel has been installed at their first-choice target, after Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently reignited talks with the German and with the new belief that he is now ready to take charge to take. We also understand that, contrary to reports last summer, Tuchel turned them down at the time – feeling he needed to take a break from the game following his recent sacking by Bayern Munich – rather than United having his back turned.

Be that as it may, United reluctantly decided at the time to remain loyal to Ten Hag and offered him a new one-year contract until the summer of 2026.

However, as we reported at the time, the fact that he was not offered a longer deal was indicative of their doubts about his suitability to change their shape. And with the club’s dismal start to the season staring them in the face, they are faced with the embarrassing decision of having to sack him from his post just a few weeks later – and pay him significant compensation in the process.

Ratcliffe’s inability to publicly back Ten Hag before last week’s meeting is also significant and we understand he made it clear he wanted the Dutchman DELETED from the hot seat when meeting with his fellow directors, but ultimately put that decision in the hands of (general manager) Omar Berrada and (sports director) Dan Ashworth.

Ten Hag himself has continued to put on a brave and resilient face in the wake of mounting claims that he will be fired. He stressed that his relationship with the club remains strong and that they “continue to talk every day.”

Man Utd overview: Zidane wants stylish Spanish star as first signing

Tuchel is not the only man linked with the United hotseat and on Monday a report revealed that director Jean-Claude Blanc believes the Red Devils still have a chance to appoint Zinedine Zidane if that were an approach.

The French icon has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021 and has been waiting for the right opportunity to get back to work.

It is now suggested he is open to an approach from United, with a further report claiming Zidane had demanded a classy LaLiga defender as his first signing if he takes charge.

Meanwhile, a trusted source also claims that the Red Devils are planning another double attack on Bayern Munich in 2025 for Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka, while Ashworth wants to add extra quality to the squad.

The experienced pair have amassed 122 caps between them for Germany and would bring a wealth of experience – with a deal for the first of them potentially taking place in January.

Elsewhere, Paul Gascoigne has remarkably told United to completely forget about Ten Hag, Tuchel and Zidane with the reappointment of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who is now 82.

IN FOCUS: Tuchel and Ten Hag records compared