Two potential candidates for the managerial position at Manchester United are allegedly being 'put off' by the strong opinions of the club's former players.
Erik ten Hag is expected to remain in charge of the 20-time English champions for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign, including the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
However, it has been claimed that Ten Hag will be sacked this summer, with the club deciding to go in a new direction next season.
Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel is seen as the favourite to replace Ten Hag, while Graham Potter, England manager Gareth Southgate and Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim are also being linked with the role.
According to The Telegraph, there are at least two candidates for the role who have concerns over the strong opinions of a number of the club's former players, who are prominent figures in the media.
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At least two candidates 'have concerns over opinions of ex-players'
Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves are among the former Man United players who currently work in the media.
Following Man United's 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday night, Scholes claimed that Steve McClaren, who is one of Ten Hag's assistants, is not being allowed to impact the team.
"He's not touching that team. The manager must not be letting him touch that team because everyone thinks we (Owen's United) were a great team that attacked everybody but Steve McClaren put sessions on to make sure we stopped other teams, getting the distances and angles right," said Scholes.
"There's not actually that many bad players at United is there? It looks like they're not being coached, when it looks like being the manager's fault. It looks like the fight has gone out of them."
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Erik ten Hag could have just four games left as Man United boss
Man United's heavy defeat at Palace last time out left them down in eighth position in the Premier League table, two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United.
The Red Devils will qualify for next season's Europa League if they win the FA Cup, while they can also secure a spot in the competition or the Conference League via the league.
Man United will be bidding to bounce back from their four-goal loss at Selhurst Park when they welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
The team's final two league games of the campaign will then come against Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion, before tackling Man City in the FA Cup final on May 25.
Man United's absence from next season's Champions League will impact their finances heading into the summer transfer window.
