ZINEDINE ZIDANE has been in constant talks with one of Manchester United’s trusted chiefs.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team continue to weigh up what to do with Erik ten Hag‘s future after holding crunch talks during the international break.
Ineos’ chief executive officer of sport Jean-Claude Blanc has kept an open line of dialogue open with Zidane, according to The Independent.
Ratcliffe and Frenchman Blanc have long been admirers of the former Real Madrid manager, who is yet to decide if he wants to return to management.
Zidane’s three consecutive Champions League trophies is what Ineos is aspiring to bring to Old Trafford.
Pressure is starting to mount on Ten Hag, with United 14th and on a -3 goal difference in their worst ever start in the Prem after seven games.
For now it looks like United will stick by Ten Hag, who signed a one-year contract extension over the summer.
Ratcliffe, Blanc and all other major decision makers held a seven-hour meeting in London last Tuesday but no details have emerged.
Ten Hag survived a June review and was handed £205m during the summer window, to bring his total spending to more than £600m.
With Thomas Tuchel now out of the running for the Man Utd job, Ratcliffe must adjust his shortlist should Ten Hag be sacked.
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In four years at Real Madrid:
Tuchel was announced as England’s new boss and permanent successor to Gareth Southgate today.
Zidane, 52, is one of the few men with winning pedigree who is currently out of a job.
But it was reported last month, that Zidane would reject the role, mostly on the basis of not being fully comfortable speaking English.
He told L’Equipe: “Would I want to go to Manchester? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it.
“I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way.
“Many elements come into play in order to win, it is a global context. I know what I need to win.”
But the Red Devils intend to keep that connection with Zidane open should there be a changes in both situations.
He took charge of Real Madrid on two occasions and won two LaLigas and three Champions League titles.
He has not managed since leaving Los Blancos for a second time in 2021.
Graham Potter, Kieran McKenna, Simone Inzaghi, Ruben Amorim and Southgate also remain in contention to become the next United boss.
