Sir Jim Ratcliffe has identified Roberto De Zerbi as Ten Hag’s Replacement if he fails to turn things around

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly on the verge of completing the purchase of a minority stake in Manchester United, and he has identified Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as a manager that can replace Erik ten Hag if the Dutchman fails to turn things around in the coming weeks.

Ten Hag has had a difficult start to his tenure at Old Trafford, with United losing four of their eight opening games of the season. The Red Devils are currently 10th in the Premier League table, and they have also lost both of their opening Champions League fixtures.

If Ten Hag fails to turn things around, Ratcliffe is reportedly prepared to sack him and appoint De Zerbi as his replacement. De Zerbi has impressed in his short time at Brighton, and he is seen as one of the most promising young managers in Europe.

Why De Zerbi is a good candidate to replace Ten Hag

De Zerbi is a good candidate to replace Ten Hag for a number of reasons.

He is a very talented manager. He has a proven track record of success, having led Sassuolo to two top-six finishes in Serie A. He is also known for his attacking style of play, which would be a good fit for Manchester United.
He is a young and ambitious manager. He is only 43 years old, but he has already achieved a lot in his career. He is also hungry to succeed, and he would be motivated to prove himself at a big club like Manchester United.
He is a good communicator. He is able to get the best out of his players, and he is also able to build relationships with the fans. This is important, as Manchester United need a manager who can unite the club.

The challenges that De Zerbi would face

If De Zerbi is appointed as Manchester United manager, he would face a number of challenges.

He would need to rebuild the squad. United have a number of ageing players, and they also need to improve their depth.
He would need to manage the expectations of the fans. Manchester United have a very demanding fan base, and they expect their team to win every game. De Zerbi would need to be patient and persistent, and he would need to be able to handle the pressure.

Additional thoughts

It is important to note that Ten Hag has only been at Manchester United for a few months, and it is still too early to judge him. However, if United continue to perform poorly, Ratcliffe may be tempted to sack him and appoint De Zerbi as his replacement.
De Zerbi is a very talented manager, and he has the potential to be successful at Manchester United. However, he would need to be given time to rebuild the squad and implement his own style of play.

Here are some specific examples of what De Zerbi could do to rebuild the Manchester United squad:

He could sell some of the club’s ageing players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Matic.
He could sign young and talented players, such as Christopher Nkunku and Jude Bellingham.
He could improve the squad’s depth by signing players who can play in multiple positions.

Here are some specific examples of what De Zerbi could do to manage the expectations of the Manchester United fans:

He could be honest and transparent with the fans about the club’s situation.
He could set realistic goals for the team.
He could celebrate the team’s successes, and he could learn from the team’s failures.

If De Zerbi is appointed as Manchester United manager, he will face a number of challenges. However, he is a very talented manager, and he has the potential to be successful at Old Trafford.