Manchester United has reportedly contacted former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag, who is facing mounting pressure. According to Calciomercato, club executives are bracing for the possibility of a difficult season and are formulating contingency plans.
The Red Devils have had a rocky start to the 2024-25 season, despite substantial support for Ten Hag during the summer transfer window. United is said to have invested over €200 million on new players to strengthen the squad, including Leny Yoro from Lille, Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, and Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt.
Despite these additions, Ten Hag has struggled to deliver on the club’s investment, with performances not meeting expectations. The team has secured only two wins from their first four league matches and currently sits 10th in the table with six points. This lackluster start has fueled speculation about a managerial change if results do not improve.
Reports indicate that the club’s leadership has already reached out to Allegri, who is currently unemployed. It is believed the Italian coach has received initial approval from Manchester United’s executives and could be approached to take over at Old Trafford should the club decide to part ways with Ten Hag.
In the meantime, Ten Hag provided an update on the fitness of two key players ahead of United’s upcoming match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Red Devils aim to avenge their 4-0 defeat to Palace from last season and could benefit from the return of Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund. Both players, who have been recovering from injuries, have resumed training and may be available for selection.
Regarding their potential involvement, Ten Hag stated, “It’s great news that they are back on the pitch. They are participating in team training, and we will assess their fitness for Saturday. It’s encouraging that they are fit and back in the squad.”
He further added, “With many games coming up, I’m very pleased. We’ll make the final decision based on their recovery after a few training sessions.”
With increasing pressure on Ten Hag and the club exploring alternatives, the upcoming matches could be pivotal for his future at United. The prospect of Allegri stepping in is becoming more tangible as the club seeks to turn their season around and climb back up the Premier League standings.
