Ineos favourite tipped for 'job for life' as Erik ten Hag Man United sack pressure continues

England and Newcastle United legend Paul Gascoigne believes Gareth Southgate will be appointed the next Manchester United manager should Erik ten Hag be sacked.

Southgate has been heavily linked with the United job after being highly appreciated by the new co-owners at Old Trafford Ineos. The former England head coach, who departed that position after losing the final of Euro 2024, has a close working relationship with the Reds' director of football Dan Ashworth.

The duo worked together previously at the FA and it is believed Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford are among those who have been impressed by the culture Southgate fostered with the national team. In an interview with SportsCasting, Gascoigne admitted that he has been unimpressed by the squad's attitude under Ten Hag so far this campaign.

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"Looking at Ten Hag, I feel sorry for him a bit. I would love Alex Ferguson to take over just for one season and just see what he could do with those players," Gascoigne said.

"You’ve got to give the man a bit of respect and it’s such a massive club, I don’t think some of the players realise who they’re playing for." That being said, Gascoigne is adamant that Southgate will be in line for the United gig should Ten Hag be sacked.

"If United do get rid of Ten Hag, I could see Gareth taking over as manager," he explained. "I always say once you’re England manager, you’ll get a job for life."

Should Ineos want to appoint Southgate, they may be forced to wait for at least a year to do so. "I won’t coach in the next year, for sure," he explained at the ECA Europe general assembly.

"I need to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time, you need to give your mind time."

Currently, Thomas Tuchel is the favourite to replace Ten Hag at United. However, the ex-Bayern Munich and Chelsea manager's odds to join England last week shortened dramatically as the search for Southgate's replacement with the national team continues.

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