ERIK TEN HAG appears to have avoided the chopping block at Manchester United, at least for now.
A SEVEN-HOUR meeting with club chiefs on Tuesday came to an end with no movement on the future of the United boss despite the intense pressure and whirlwind speculation surrounding him.
However, the pursuit of other possible targets took a twist on Friday after it was reported that Thomas Tuchel was in talks for the England job.
Tuchel, 51, has been heavily linked with replacing Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
But according to Bild, he could now replace Gareth Southgate as the Three Lions next permanent head coach.
Southgate himself played down his links to the Red Devils’ job by saying he would be taking a full year out of work.
And that has left the pool of potential successors to Ten Hag even more drained than it was in the summer.
SunSport have looked at six options who could still be considered if Ten Hag’s time at United does ultimately come to a mid-season end.
Former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter has been without a job since he was sacked by the Blues, but was known for his fluid brand of football and development of young players at the Seagulls, aspects United want to champion.
However, he directly addressed the speculation appearing on Sky Sports last month, saying: “I am the only coach in world football to be linked with Stoke City and Napoli in the same week. I have had lots of conversations with lots of people and I think out of respect to those people it’s best those are kept private.”
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A coach at Man Utd during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s time in charge, Kieran McKenna made his first move into management with Ipswich and has impressed ever since by getting them promoted to the top flight.
He was consequently linked with a move to another club in the summer, but snubbed interest by signing a new contract. There are concerns whether he would be ready to take on the mammoth Man Utd job anyway.
The Inter Milan manager, Simone Inzaghi, is reported to have already rejected an approach from Man Utd.
He was viewed as an ideal candidate given his experience at the top level and previous success, leading the Italians to the Serie A title, two Coppa Italias and a Champions League final.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim has caught the eye of many of Europes top sides as a potential new boss.
Fresh reports have linked him with a move to Old Trafford should Ten Hag leave, with his Portuguese connections set to do wonders for the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot.
Thomas Frank has long been praised for how well he has done with Brentford, in terms of buying into their recruitment plan and getting the best out of players on the pitch.
Indeed, Pep Guardiola said it was only a “question of time” before he lands a job at one of European football’s powerhouses.
Like Inzhagi and Potter on this list, Ruud van Nistelrooy seems to have squashed rumours about taking over the Man Utd job, with reports suggesting he does not want to betray Ten Hag.
However, in the event Ten Hag is let go, Van Nistelrooy is likely to be offered the job at least on an interim basis. He impressed as a manager for PSV.
DEAR DEIDRE: MY sister’s boyfriend seduced me and I’m completely smitten.
We’ve been hooking up for sex at least twice a week and our next “date” is all that I am able to think about.
I was hoping they would split up and in time he and I would be able to go public with our relationship — but my sister just announced she’s pregnant.
She’s so excited, and boasting about her pregnancy to anyone who will listen — but meanwhile I feel nothing but fury.
Her boyfriend had even told me he wished we had got together first.
I’m 27, my sister and her boyfriend are both 29.
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I met him first, when I was working for a high-street fashion store. He caught my eye and I went home raving to my sister that I’d met the love of my life.
Still, when we bumped into him on a night out, she acted like she couldn’t remember that I liked him.
She was all over him and they kissed right in front of me. I was so miffed but she simply dismissed me, saying they have unstoppable chemistry.
They started dating and it was nauseating seeing them constantly entwined on the sofa.
Secretly, I was delighted when they started bickering about the amount of time they did or did not spend together.
My sister started to talk about dumping him, as she was so fed up.
That’s when I ran into him in the garage one day and got the sense he was flirting with me.
That afternoon he started to message me and our exchanges quickly became intense.
I knew it was wrong when I accepted his invitation for a drink at his flat, but this is a man I’d lusted after for over two years.
I gave in and it was amazing. We’ve had four amazing months together and now my sister has ruined it all.
Since her big announcement, he’s started to distance himself.
I can’t think straight and feel like such a fool.
MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE
DEIDRE SAYS: You are not thinking straight.
This man is set to be the father of your sister’s child, your niece or nephew, so please put an end to your affair or you risk causing lasting damage within your family.
This has gone beyond the standard sibling rivalry and it’s time to draw a line under this.
It doesn’t matter “who fancied him first”, he was in a relationship with your sister so you shouldn’t have gone anywhere near him.
Ask yourself, do you really want to be with a man who is prepared to play both of you off each other?
My support pack Your Lover Not Free will help you see this fling for what it is.
TOWIE star Junaid Ahmed has admitted he is “really loved up” with Joe Blackman as the pair yet off holiday.
Fans of the show were left gobsmacked when they started dating – just days after Joe’s split from Harry Derbidge.
But despite speculation they wouldn’t last, the pair seem happier than ever.
Speaking to The Sun last week, Junaid said: “We’re really good. Really really happy. Really loved up.”
He added: We’re in a really good space. Happy. We’ll see how things go. Let’s see what happens.”
But he admitted he is yet to speak to Harry, his former best friend, about the betrayal.
“No I havent spoken to him and I genuinely wish him the best,” he told us.
“I think that friendship is done. I wish him the best and I hope that he is ok. I send him my love and I hope that he is ok. “
Harry was left completely heartbroken and blindsided by their budding romance, which has played out on screen.
This weekend Joe and Junaid have jetted off on their first proper holiday together – to Ibiza.
The pair have shared numerous snaps as they headed to the party isle, in a move that is likely to upset Harry even further.
During last week’s Towie Harry’s furious cousin Amy Childs was seen confronting Junaid and Joe.
She told Junaid: “I really hope you two get married, but I know for a fact in two weeks time you’ll ring me and say ‘Amy look what he’s done to Harry and now look what he’s done to you,’ so good luck to you.”
Amy was joined by her fiancé Billy Delbosq, who also backed Harry, as he called Junaid and Joe’s romance “fake.”
He said: “Personally I think he’s going to drop you out, and whatever this is that’s going on it’s as fake as a handbag down Dagenham market.”
As they turned to leave, Amy turned back and said: “Yeah you’re snakes, hun.”
