Shock new contender under consideration to replace Erik ten Hag as Man Utd manager with 'talks held'

A surprise contender has emerged to replace Erik ten Hag if he is sacked as Manchester United manager.

Ten Hag has been under pressure over recent weeks following United's worst start to a domestic top division season since 1989.

A 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday eased some of that pressure, but United still occupy a bottom-half position and need an upturn in form to arrive quickly.

Earlier this month, the Manchester Evening News reported that Thomas Tuchel had been lined up by United chiefs in the event that they decided to part company with Ten Hag.

But Tuchel has since signed a contract to become the new England manager from January 2025.

According to the Daily Mail, United have a small shortlist of potential managerial candidates - with a surprise new name added to the list.

That manager is former Barcelona boss Xavi, who has been out of work since leaving Camp Nou in the summer.

The Spaniard is familiar with current United chief executive Omar Berrada, who worked as a marketing manager at Barca between 2004 and 2011 before joining Manchester City.

It is claimed that Berrada was part of a four-man delegation that flew out to Spain for meetings last week, although it is unclear whether those talks were related to Xavi or to the INEOS Britannia cycling team, which is owned by United minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and has been competing in Barcelona at the 37th Americas Cup.

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Xavi is said to have not yet held talks with United directly, with the contact between United and the Spaniard's representatives instead being conducted through club intermediaries.

The 44-year-old, although having never lived in England, is fluent in English and has conducted a number of interviews in the language throughout his time in football.

Spanish outlet SPORT reported last week that the Barcelona legend had entered talks over becoming the new manager of the Qatar national team, having finished his playing career in the Gulf state.