Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Roy Keane, Graham Potter, Manchester United, Premier League, Erik Ten Hag, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chelsea
Ryan Smart
Topics: Roy Keane, Graham Potter, Manchester United, Premier League, Erik Ten Hag, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chelsea
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has already made his feelings clear on Graham Potter amid reports that he could replace Erik ten Hag as manager at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag has grown under increasing pressure in recent days after United's elimination from Europe was confirmed on Tuesday night.
United lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich at Old Trafford, and while a win would have only qualified them for the Europa League play-off round, the defeat means that, alongside Newcastle, two English clubs were rooted to the bottom of their Champions League group this season.
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Ten Hag will now have to navigate an away trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool, and try to banish painful memories of the 7-0 thrashing at the hands of the same opposition back in March.
And while United fans aren't expecting a positive result, a defensive injury crisis is sparking fears of another significant defeat.
Now, according to The Sun, prospective minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has held talks with former Chelsea boss Potter, and he is the favourite to take over Ten Hag if he is sacked.
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Potter was linked with the vacant role at Ratcliffe/INEOS-owned Nice in the summer, before the job was given to Francesco Farioli. He has turned down approaches from Lyon, Rangers and Leicester, as well as the Sweden national team, and remains out of work.
He also turned down an approach by Championship side Stoke, who sacked former Norwich and Preston North End boss Alex Neil last week.
The arrival of Potter at Old Trafford would potentially be divisive among fans, given the Englishman was sacked by Chelsea earlier this year.
However, many would point to the huge squad turnover at Stamford Bridge - which saw many pillars of the side's 2020/21 Champions League success under Thomas Tuchel moved on - as a factor behind his struggles there.
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Potter worked his way up to the top of English football via success at Swedish side Ostersunds, Swansea and Brighton, instilling a positive style of play and collective team spirit.
And speaking after Potter was appointed by Chelsea last year, Premier League legend Keane praised the Englishman's work - although did bring up one sticking point for United to take into consideration.
He told Sky Sports: "I like Graham Potter at Chelsea. I like the way his teams play, I like the way he comes across in the media.
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"I'm delighted he's got a chance at a big club like Chelsea. There's all this talk about if he can manage a big club and big egos and all this, but give the man a chance. He's settled in really well.
"Every time he speaks in interviews, I think he comes across really well."