Insiders familiar with the situation at Manchester United have revealed to CaughtOffside that the club initiated preliminary discussions with both Julen Lopetegui and Antonio Conte, exploring them as potential candidates should they decide to replace Erik ten Hag at the end of the season.
At this point, there doesn’t appear to be an immediate inclination to part ways with Ten Hag. However, concerns have arisen over the team’s performance at various points this season, raising the possibility that the Dutch tactician may not continue at Old Trafford unless there’s a substantial improvement in the second half of the campaign.
CaughtOffside has learned that Lopetegui was recently approached and declined an opportunity to take over as the manager of Al Ittihad.
This decision was influenced by the potential opening at Manchester United in the near future. Lopetegui, previously associated with Wolves, has expressed a keen interest in managing in England once again, with securing another Premier League position being his priority for the upcoming season. Nottingham Forest had also piqued his interest at one point.
On the other hand, the situation with Conte appears more complex for United. His preference is understood to be staying in Italy for proximity to his family. While the former Tottenham and Chelsea boss wouldn’t entirely dismiss the prospect of managing in the Premier League again, as of now, there’s no agreement in place with AC Milan, despite some reports suggesting otherwise.
As Manchester United navigates a pivotal juncture in their season, these behind-the-scenes maneuvers highlight the club’s proactive approach in assessing managerial options for potential future scenarios.
The decisions surrounding Ten Hag’s tenure will likely hinge on the team’s performance trajectory in the latter part of the campaign, with the club carefully considering its options to ensure stability and success in the managerial role.
