Manchester United

Manchester United 'refuse meetings with agents proposing manager replacements'

By Devesh Jaganath | 14 November 2023

Man United 'refuse meetings with agents of managers'

Manchester United reportedly refuse meetings with agents whose primary agenda is to suggest clients as potential replacements for Erik ten Hag.

Manchester United have reportedly been refusing meetings with agents whose primary agenda is to suggest clients as potential replacements for Erik ten Hag.

The Man United manager has faced considerable pressure this season, which has been attributed mainly to subpar on-field performances and a series of disappointing results.

United have suffered defeat in nine out of their 18 games across all competitions this season; however, Ten Hag managed to alleviate some pressure by claiming a crucial 1-0 victory against Luton Town just before the November international break.

According to a report from ESPN, the manager reportedly retains the faith of key club officials, and there is a sense of frustration among them due to attempts by agents to promote other coaches for Ten Hag's position.

The report further mentions that a scheduled meeting with the representative of a well-known unemployed manager was cancelled due to apprehension that the discussion would centre around the potential uncertainty surrounding the Dutch manager's job.

It is understood that United's leadership perceives signs of progress of late as Ten Hag's team secured victories against Fulham and Luton in the Premier League despite a 4-3 loss to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

While there is acknowledgement that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's upcoming partial investment in United will introduce uncertainty at various levels of the club, it is believed that both Ratcliffe and his close confidant, Sir Dave Brailsford, admire Ten Hag and the work he has accomplished thus far.

The INEOS chiefs reportedly hold a "dim view" of United's structure and recruitment in recent years and are eager to implement measures to enhance the club's operations in the transfer market.