A handful of Manchester United players have reportedly put decisions about their futures on hold due to uncertainty over Erik ten Hag's position at Old Trafford.
The former Ajax boss still has just over a year to run on the three-season agreement he signed upon his arrival in 2022, but he has received no public backing from Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
After steering the Red Devils to EFL Cup glory and a top-three Premier League finish last season, the Dutchman has seen his side regress in 2023-24, where they finished bottom of their Champions League group.
Man United's chances of returning to the top continental tournament for 2024-25 are increasingly slim, as they lie seventh in the Premier League table with a 10-point gap to Tottenham Hotspur in fifth and a 13-point deficit to make up to Aston Villa in fourth.
Ten Hag could still make it back-to-back trophy wins in his two seasons in charge, as Man United prepare to face Coventry City in this weekend's FA Cup semi-final before a potential final with either Chelsea or holders Manchester City.
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Man United players 'convinced' about Ten Hag sack
The Dutchman recently affirmed that he harboured no "doubts" about his future at the club, and there are not believed to be any immediate plans to give him the boot ahead of next season.
However, the Manchester Evening News claims that several Red Devils players are convinced that Ten Hag will not be in charge next season, and they are delaying decisions about their next career move as a result.
While Ratcliffe and co are not currently intending to sever ties with Ten Hag, the board are supposedly working on a strategy which would allow them to sack him stress-free should a change in leadership be required.
Ratcliffe's INEOS group - led by Sir Dave Brailsford and Omar Berrada - are running the rule over several managerial candidates, although they still have a couple of upstairs appointments to take care of first.
Man United are still working on the appointment of former Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth, while former Southampton chief and Manchester City academy coach Jason Wilcox is also set to arrive for the 2024-25 season.
Which Man United players are facing uncertain futures?
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The above question may be better phrased as which Man United players' positions are not under threat, as Ratcliffe is likely to oversee a mass clearout in the double figures during his first summer transfer window.
Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Tom Heaton and Anthony Martial all see their contracts expire at the end of the season with no extensions in sight, and the same can be said for Brandon Williams and Alvaro Carreras, currently on loan elsewhere.
Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek - all of whom are also plying their trade across Europe - will be on the chopping block when they return too, while Sofyan Amrabat's loan from Fiorentina should not be made permanent.
The Red Devils are also being tipped to entertain appropriate offers for Christian Eriksen, Antony, Casemiro, Amad Diallo and Altay Bayindir, but the likes of Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof - whose futures have also been called into question - are expected to stay on.
Ben Knapton
