Man Utd news: Final Erik ten Hag sack request made as Jim Ratcliffe told who to hire

Manchester United have remained busy during the international break and Erik ten Hag appears to have avoided being relieved of his duties at Old Trafford with little over a week until Brentford

It may be the international break but there has been no shortage of Manchester United.

Erik ten Hag appears to have survived the sack for now after meetings between the club's hierarchy earlier this week. Though speculation over his future remains and theories are emerging over what may happen next.

While the Dutchman has spent some time on holiday, he may now be pondering the club's injury situation and hoping matters are not made worse via the international fixtures taking place. With United welcoming Brentford to Old Trafford in little over a week, regardless of his own security, a win is required.

Mirror Football takes a look at some of the bigger stries currently surrounding the club.

Noussair Mazraoui timeline

United defender Noussair Mazraoui is facing a prolonged spell out of action after undergoing surgery.

The defender, has started all seven of United's Premier League games this season at right-back, was substituted at half-time against Aston Villa and pulled out of Morocco's international matches. Mazraoui is now facing several weeks on the sidelines following a precautionary corrective procedure after experiencing heart palpitations.

While the condition is said to be relatively common and Mazraoui is expected to make a full recovery, United have not put a timescale on the expected return of the summer signing from Bayern Munich.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe request

United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has demanded United's senior figures used an 'evidence based' approach, similar to INEOS, to ensure that all decisions are unanimous and based on facts and figures.

According to the Independent, Ratcliffe requested for a 'forensic' approach during the crunch meeting in London earlier this week when Ten Hag's future was on the agenda and one figure is understood to have argued for a change to be made immediately.

Ratcliffe was warned by another in the meeting of potential 'disruption' that could arrive as a result and concerns over the lack of available replacements was highlighted. The seven-hour meeting, which saw Sir Dave Brailsford, directors Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada come together, has seen no statement emerge from the club and it appears the Dutchman has survived the initial review.

Manchester United recruitment fix

Former Premier League star Paul Merson believes that Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand should have been put in charge of the club's recruitment.

Recent seasons have seen a number of transfer failures with deals to sign Antony and Mason Mount particularly criticised. Merson belives Neville and Ferdinand have the tools to help the club move forward.

"I would have put someone like Gary Neville in charge of the recruitment," Merson told Sky Sports. "Gary has been at that club all his career, and he knows football inside out.

"You put someone like him in charge, or Rio Ferdinand, someone like that or even both of them together, and you go ‘right, we want to build this club- what players should we be bringing in?’"

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