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And according to ESPN, Southgate, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Brentford boss Thomas Frank are all being considered as potential successors. But the availability of the England man could well depend on how the Three Lions perform at Euro 2024.
Southgate, 53, is yet to publicly confirm his intentions, having not worked in club football since leaving Middlesbrough in 2009. But United's move to make Richard Ashworth their new sporting director could well prove significant, with the pair having previously worked together at the FA.
De Zerbi meanwhile, is being touted for a string of roles after continuing to impress with the Seagulls. He was reportedly on a shortlist at Real Madrid before Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he would be remaining at the Bernabeu beyond this season, having been expected to take the Brazil national job.
And Frank's reputation has also grown during Brentford's two-and-a-half-year stay in the top flight. But the Bees are set to lose pivotal striker Ivan Toney this summer, a development which could well turn the head of the German if United came in.
INEOS are reportedly keen to have a plan in place if Ten Hag is relieved of his duties, given Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are already in the market for a managerial appointment. The Red Devils have also previously been linked to an audacious move for Zinedine Zidane, but that speculation has cooled.
A final decision on the ex-Ajax man is still reportedly some way from being finalised, with United having the opportunity to salvage an underwhelming season. The City defeat left them sixth in the Premier League table, and 11 points off the top four.
But they have a critical FA Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford this month, with the competition representing their last chance of silver in 2023/24. A defeat against the Reds would undoubtedly ramp up more pressure on Ten Hag, who has regularly refused to be drawn on his future.
"I’m here, I’m under contract for three seasons, so I don’t care. I’m only focusing on the process so I don’t care what’s going around me," he said last week. “I have many talks with Jim Ratcliffe but especially also with Sir Dave Brailsford so I know what we are talking about. I have a strong belief and I feel that they believe in me."
