Si Jim Ratcliffe has held talks with Thomas Tuchel in Monaco – with Manchester United set to reach a conclusion over the managerial position at Old Trafford this week.
While no final decision on the future of current incumbent Erik ten Hag has yet been made, officials have spoken to a number of potential replacements.
Former Chelsea boss Tuchel met new investor Ratcliffe in Monaco last Tuesday. At the meeting, Tuchel outlined his plans should he be tasked with replacing Ten Hag, who is still to hear his fate.
The German spoke of how he would address United’s various issues on the playing side and disclosed how he would go about returning outcast Jadon Sancho and underperforming Mason Mount – whom he worked with at Stamford Bridge – back on form.
According to a report in German publication Bild, which Mail Sport understands is accurate, Tuchel also cited ex-Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger as an example of his ability to bring the best out of his players.
Ratcliffe and his Ineos group have been carrying out a review into the position. United’s shock FA Cup final victory over rivals City has complicated the matter and is thought to have boosted Ten Hag’s case.
While there can be no doubt that an eighth-placed finish can only be seen as a significant underachievement, mitigating factors – not least the club’s crippling injury list – have been identified.
There is a theory within the group that judgement on the Dutchman should be reserved until he has had the opportunity to work in the stable, elite and supportive environment that Ratcliffe and co are seeking to instil.
Failures of previous big name managers such as Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, along with the reign of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have led to a theory that previous managers have not been provided with the right tools to succeed.
As Mail Sport revealed, significant work is taking place this summer at the club’s Carrington training ground in a bid to provide those tools.
Much attention has also been paid to avoiding a repeat of the injury crisis that wreaked havoc through Ten Hag’s squad and consistently stripped him of the ability to start his preferred XI.
Regardless, Tuchel is one of a number of potential replacements United have lined up. Others are Brentford boss Thomas Frank, ex-Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Tuchel’s fellow former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Ineos will make whatever transfer funds they can available, but a significant overspend in recent seasons has left United walking a tightrope with regards to the Premier League’s financial fair play rules.
To that end, they are seeking a manager who has a reputation for getting the best out of players – given that a significant turnover in the existing squad is unlikely.
The arrival of Omar Berrada as chief executive in July, along with Jason Wilcox as technical director and potentially Dan Ashworth as sporting director are all seen as moves that will supplement the manager as they seek to restore United to the summit of world football.
