Man Utd held 'face-to-face' talks with shock manager two days BEFORE the FA Cup final

Manchester United held face-to-face talks with a manager two days before the FA Cup final, it has been claimed.

On Wednesday evening it emerged that United have opted to keep Ten Hag as their manager next season.

There had been uncertainty surrounding the Dutchman’s future after a campaign which saw the club win the FA Cup, but record their lowest Premier League finish ever (eighth) and be eliminated from the Champions League at the group stages.

However, United held talks with Ten Hag, with both parties ultimately agreeing to continue the 54-year-old’s tenure. Moreover, it has been widely reported there have been discussions to extend Ten Hag’s contract, with his current deal running until next June, with the option to prolong be another year.

United allegedly sounded out a spate of replacements for Ten Hag, with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna having all been linked at various points.

And the Athletic have now claimed that the same week Ten Hag was preparing his players to take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final, the United hierarchy “hit the speed dating circuit”.

That week club executives allegedly went on a series of interviews to assess the credentials of Ten Hag alternatives.

Silva is said to have interviewed for the United job (Getty)

De Zerbi was reportedly sounded out that week while Marco Silva is said to have met face-to-face with the club on Thursday, when Ten Hag was stressing to the media he was planning for next season.

Furthermore, the publication added that Pochettino and Tuchel also had meetings in London around the Wembley showpiece.

Ultimately they decided to stick with Ten Hag, who had become the first United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson to win a trophy in two consecutive seasons.

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