Manchester United are finding it tough to string together a run of Premier League results and have now made contact with a high-profile manager who is loved by Harry Kane.
Ruben Amorim's uncertain Man Utd future
Falling to a disappointing defeat at Brentford on Saturday has heaped even more pressure on Ruben Amorim, who is feeling the heat after a fourth loss of the season across all competitions.
With Manchester United now in the bottom half of the Premier League table, there is plenty of anxiety among supporters as the Red Devils continue to falter and yet remain wedded to their 3-4-3 formation.
Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire were poor performers against Brentford, a rare occurrence, but their teammates hardly stepped up to be counted either on a day where the hosts were far more concise at both ends of the field.
Speaking post-match, Amorim lamented his struggling side for their lack of control in the game, acknowledging the Bees made far lighter work of fashioning attacking opportunities.
“When we win, it’s not the system. When we lose, it’s the system. I understand that. I think it’s more that we play this game like Brentford wants to play this game. With long balls, we kick the ball, second balls, and we never settle down our game. We never play our game.
“We never push the opponent. We knew that every time they recover the ball, they will make a run, and they will fight for the ball. We suffered two goals like that.”
Sunderland travel to Old Trafford next time out as Amorim looks to steady a ship that is far from stable. Nevertheless, Sir Jim Ratcliffe may now have taken a decisive step towards finding his successor.
Man Utd make contact with Gareth Southgate
According to talkSPORT, Manchester United and Ratcliffe have made contact with former England manager Gareth Southgate in recent weeks over replacing Amorim in the dugout at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe has reached out to his camp, while Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola are also on their three-man shortlist.
Any decision to part ways with Amorim would likely be held back until November, with the current cost of terminating his association with the club said to be around £12 million.
Southgate, who prefers a 4-3-3 formation, has been on a break from management after leading England to the final of EURO 2024. The 55-year-old also took the Three Lions to the 2020 showpiece of the competition alongside finishing fourth in the 2018 World Cup.
Highly respected by his peers, Kane previously labelled him ‘one of England’s greatest ever managers’ after he departed the position with a record of 61 wins, 24 draws and 17 losses in 102 matches, giving him a win ratio of 59.8%.
His only experience in the Premier League as a coach came with Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009. However, Manchester United would be an entirely different kettle of fish, though his statesmanlike exterior and ability to build compact sides could help to stem the flow of goals conceded at the Red Devils.