Erik ten Hag Unfazed by Sack Threats Despite Southgate Attending Man Utd Chief’s Birthday

• Erik ten Hag is increasingly likely to leave Manchester United at the end of the season
• The Dutch manager could be a victim of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's wave of changes at the club
• Rumoured favourite Gareth Southgate was spotted at a director’s birthday party

Erik ten Hag is keeping a straight face despite media talks suggesting he is in his final weeks as Manchester United boss with a replacement already lined up ahead of next season.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken over football operations from the Glazers’ family after acquiring a minority stake of 27.7% at the club for a reported £1.3 billion.

The British billionaire is expected to ring many changes and has already begun fixing the football structure at the club, a move which could touch the manager's future.

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Per The Sun, England national team boss Gareth Southgate is the favourite to be the next manager in the Old Trafford dugout if the former Ajax boss is shown the exit.

Ten Hag unfazed by sack rumours

The Red Devils faced a late fixture on Saturday evening at the Gtech Community Stadium against Brentford, and speaking ahead of the tie, the manager commented on the rumours surrounding his future via Mirror UK.

“I don’t care. We are working, we are cooperating, we are together in the boat. I was trained at Ajax, and it was similar. When you are working at top football, you get used to it. So we don’t care. Players don’t care,” he said.

“When you are working at Man United there will always be noise, but we are focusing on the team playing better.”

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The rumours gathered momentum after The Telegraph reported that Southgate was at the birthday party of Dave Brailsford, the club's chief of football.

Brailsford, Ratcliffe's right-hand on football matters, celebrated his 60th birthday last month, and the Three Lions boss was said to be present, further intensifying the rumours.

Managers who could replace ten Hag

Sports Brief previously reported on five managers who could replace ten Hag at Man Utd if Ratcliffe fails to land the number one target Southgate in the summer.

The British billionaire is not putting all his eggs in one basket in his bid to hire a new manager for the club and has a list of other options in case the English manager declines.