Two Italian coaches among the contenders to replace Ten Hag at Man Utd

According to The Telegraph, Thiago Motta and Roberto De Zerbi are among the candidates to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer.

The Dutch coach’s future at Old Trafford is uncertain following Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace. This means the Red Devils have lost 13 Premier League matches this season.

The latest report from The Telegraph reports a list of contenders to replace Ten Hag if the ex-Ajax coach is sacked at the end of the season. According to the report, both Motta and De Zerbi are being considered for the role.

Two Italian coaches among the contenders to replace Ten Hag at Man Utd

Motta’s contract with Bologna expires in June, but the ex-Italy international has also been linked with Juventus.

“Bologna were hardly built to his way of playing when he took over but he has shaped the squad in his image,” wrote the Telegraph.

“Like many of the candidates, the question is whether he could make the jump to a club with United’s stature and expectations – and so many issues to address.”

De Zerbi, on the other hand, is under contract with Brighton until June 2026 and he has a release clause between €13m and €15m.

“Pep Guardiola rates him as one of the best managers in Europe and the Italian enjoyed a remarkable debut season with Brighton,” noted The Telegraph.

“This season has proven more difficult, particularly with injuries to key players, but the quality of Brighton’s build-up play and possession play has ensured the 44-year-old tends to be in the conversation when the top jobs come around. United would have to be satisfied he had the temperament for the Old Trafford pressure cooker.”

Milan have been linked with the former Italian midfielder as well, but Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceiçao seem to be the leading candidates to replace Stefano Pioli in 2024-25.