Manchester United draw up four-man shortlist to replace Erik ten Hag

The media is suggesting that the FA Cup final will be Erik ten Hag’s final game as manager of Manchester United.

With the help of headline-hungry hacks and agencies representing managers seeking the biggest job in football, the story has spread rapidly now that the Premier League season has concluded.

Ten Hag still has to lead his team out in FA Cup final for a second time, hoping to win his second trophy as United manager. Last season the Dutchman ended the club’s six-year silverware drought by beating Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

A report this afternoon suggested United have already opened talks with representatives of Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.

Fresh claims suggest McKenna is actually one of four names on United’s managerial shortlist, if the club decides to part ways with Ten Hag.

The Times claim that McKenna is joined by Mauricio Pochettino, recently-departed Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel and Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

A point was made that United will accelerate their contingency plans for Ten Hag’s departure amid Chelsea’s own search for a new manager.

Out of all four managers listed by The Times, I would argue that Frank is the least exciting – not that I would be jumping towards any of them ahead of Ten Hag in this moment in time. The Brentford boss described the United links as ‘flattering’ went asked prior to one of The Bees’ final league games of the season.

As much as I rate McKenna and understand that he is highly thought of at United, it may be a good idea to see how he does in the Premier League before making such an appointment. But who am I to question a young manager who has led Ipswich Town back to the Premier League following back-to-back promotions?

It’s our job as fans to back the manager and the players ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.

It feels like a waste of time discussing four-man shortlists when we’ve already got a manager in the dugout.

Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.