Julen Lopetegui ‘very well placed to succeed’ Ten Hag as Man Utd manager

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing Julen Lopetegui to succeed Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford if the Dutchman is sacked.

Ten Hag’s position at the club appears increasingly tenuous after a series of damaging defeats – including a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, followed by Tuesday night’s 1-0 loss against Bayern Munich – which dumped them out of Europe.

The Cherries secured their first ever win at Old Trafford last weekend, before the club finished bottom of Group A on their return to the Champions League with just one win six.

According to reports from Spanish publication Relevo, the club are already eyeing a replacement should the hammer fall in the coming days.

Former Spain boss Lopetegui is said to be ‘highly-rated’ by United and is ‘well positioned’ to become the club’s sixth permanent boss following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement after 27 years in charge just over a decade ago.

The report also claims that Lopetegui refused an offer worth £15.5m a year to become the latest high-profile manager to take charge of a club in the Saudi Pro League, with the 57-year-old said to desire a return to the Premier League.

Lopetegui departed Wolves in August after nine months in charge of the East-Midlands club, agreeing a seven-figure compensation package to leave just three days before the start of the Premier League season after relations between the Spaniard and the club’s owners deteriorated over transfer policy.