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It’s said that in recent months, Manchester United has communicated with both Julen Lopetegui and Antonio Conte.
Even though Erik ten Hag won an EFL Cup in his first season as manager, the Dutchman’s employment is not expected to be secure through 2023–2024.
The main cause has been United’s early Champions League elimination, yet they are still below the top five teams in the Premier League.
Currently, the Red Devils are six points behind West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers for a Champions League spot; their recent victories over both teams haven’t done anything to improve their standing.
However, if Ten Hag is to permanently win over Sir Jim Ratcliffe—who is about to officially take over football operations at Old Trafford—such form will need to continue in the long run.
CaughtOffside claims that United are still open to looking at Ten Hag substitutes right now.
As to the report, ‘first contact’ has been established with both Conte and Lopetegui to ascertain their interest level in potentially relocating to the Theatre of Dreams.
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According to reports, it is unlikely that anything will change before the season ends since Ratcliffe would rather not cause more turbulence at the club and Ten Hag is apparently trusted for the time being.
Nevertheless, Conte and Lopetegui—two well-known figures who are unemployed following recent Premier League stints—are rumoured to be on United’s short list of possible successors.
With Tottenham Hotspur, Conte played 77 games and won 41 of them. However, the 24 losses proved to be expensive, and he was fired in March following harsh criticism of his team.
As a result of Wolves’ subpar FFP position and inability to deliver his targeted transfer objectives, Lopetegui mutually agreed to depart the club in August.
Even though Wolves was one of several pre-season favourites to be relegated, they have since prospered under Gary O’Neil. However, Lopetegui’s reputation has endured because he led Wolves from the bottom to the 13th position in the second half of 2023–2024.
Prior to Nuno Espirito Santo taking Steve Cooper’s post at the City Ground, the Spaniard was recently connected to Nottingham Forest, indicating his interest in taking a job in the Premier League.
