Simone Inzaghi a serious contender for Man Utd job if Erik ten Hag gets sacked

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is on thin ice following the devastating home defeat to Tottenham and Simone Inzaghi has been identified as a serious contender to be his replacement.

Ten Hag's future at the club will be evaluated during the next international break in October by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The Dutchman's team face Porto in the Europa League this Thursday before heading to Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend, and he needs to secure some positive results to save himself.

With only two wins from their last seven matches across all competitions, United are currently sitting uncomfortably in 12th place in the Premier League, just four points clear of the relegation zone.

They also drew their only Europa League match so far, at home to Twente.

After extending Ten Hag's contract in the summer, Ratcliffe would prefer not to sack Ten Hag and will consult with fellow owners the Glazers, sporting director Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada before making a decision.

However, Ratcliffe recognises that under Ten Hag's leadership, United are merely treading water right now, and if a change is needed, Inzaghi and Gareth Southgate are top of the list, per the Daily Star.

Former England manager Southgate has many supporters at United and is good friends with Ashworth who used to work for the FA.

However, United's management has also been impressed with Inzaghi's performance since taking over Inter Milan in 2021, where he has led the team to five trophies, including last season's Serie A title.

Inzaghi guided Inter to their first Champions League final in 13 years in 2023, only to suffer a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in Istanbul.

The Italian has instilled a resilient mentality at Inter but would be expected to adopt a more offensive approach if he were to take the reins at United.

Despite signing a fresh contract with Inter earlier this year, it is unclear whether the 48-year-old could be enticed to undertake the task of restoring United to their former glories.