Manchester United expect talks with Thomas Tuchel to progress this week following Bayern Munich's Champions League exit to Real Madrid, reports say.
The Red Devils could sack Erik ten Hag, with the 54-year-old under pressure following the club's dire 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night.
United have been linked with Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi and Zinedine Zidane amid the uncertainty over Ten Hag's future.
Though they're reluctant to axe the Dutchman before the FA Cup final later this month, Ten Hag is widely expected to be shown the door with INEOS looking for their own man to lead a new era at Old Trafford.
Manchester United reportedly expect Thomas Tuchel talks to progress this week
REUTERS
And GiveMeSport say United expect talks with Tuchel to progress as soon as this week as they mull over bringing in the former Chelsea boss.
It's said talks are due to be held prior to Bayern's match with Wolfsburg on Sunday.
Tuchel, if he does take the job, would become the club's sixth permanent boss since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement 11 years ago.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all been hired and fired over the past decade or so.
And Ten Hag seems set for a similar fate, though victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final could yet save him.
Tuchel is a serial winner with a proven record at the highest level.
Though his time at Bayern Munich has failed to live up to expectations, the German still won the Bundesliga title last season.
Tuchel did well at Chelsea, guiding the Blues to Champions League glory in 2021.
They beat Manchester City in the final of that competition, with Kai Havertz - who now plays for Arsenal - bagging the only goal of the game.
Tuchel has also worked well at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain over the years, too.
And whether he does end up at United remains to be seen.
Rio Ferdinand had a playful chat with Tuchel prior to Bayern's 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
The TNT Sports pundit, who won six league titles during his time with United, joked that he'd discussed the Red Devils with the 50-year-old.
He quipped: "That was the final part of the talk: 'Where are you going?'"
"I said good luck to him. He's so relaxed, such a calm character.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is fighting to keep his job at Old Trafford
REUTERS
"You'd never know this was a semi-final and his last opportunity to win a trophy [with Bayern]."
Tuchel, meanwhile, was asked about a possible return to Egland prior to his side's heartbreaking Champions League exit.
The German kept his cards close to his chest, though did admit: "It's no secret that I loved it at Chelsea.
“I loved it in England, and I loved it in the Premier League for sure.
"It was a very, very special time in England, and I remember it very well.”
Thomas Tuchel was left devastated as Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night
REUTERS
As for Ten Hag, the Dutchman is currently preparing his United side for Sunday's showdown with Arsenal.
The Red Devils lost 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, with goals from Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus giving the Gunners all three points.