Everything Sir Jim Ratcliffe's top choice to replace Erik ten Hag has said about Man Utd job

Gareth Southgate was thrust into contention for the Manchester United occupation earlier this twelvemonth earlier his eight-year spell arsenic England brag ended, and was reportedly Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s apical choice

Gareth Southgate was reportedly Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s penchant to replace Erik 10 Hag this summertime - and the former England boss has already had his accidental connected the links to Old Trafford.

While helium yet stepped down from the Three Lions’ helm this summertime aft losing the Euro 2024 last to Spain, the long-admired but often-lambasted Southgate recovered himself linked with different unforgiving role: the Manchester United job.

Throughout his England tenure, the 54-year-old was often asked astir his home hopes for the future, but changeable reporters down each time. However, helium emerged arsenic caller 27.7 per cent proprietor Ratcliffe's front-runner nonetheless.

Now, with the timepiece erstwhile again ticketing for Ten Hag aft an embarrassing 3-0 location decision to Tottenham, Mirror Football takes a look astatine everything Southgate has said regarding the relation with the Red Devils and whether helium could beryllium successful the moving should the Dutchman get the sack.

‘Completely disrespectful’

In March of this year, erstwhile Southgate was asked whether he’d beryllium funny successful taking implicit from Ten Hag astatine Old Trafford, his effect was direct.

"I deliberation I've answered this each clip I've sat with you," helium told reporters. "My absorption is the European Championship. I'm surely not going to talk to anybody other up of that. I ne'er have. I've been present 8 years successful the job. I wouldn't entertain speaking to anybody other erstwhile I'm successful a job.

"Man Utd person a manager. It's ever wholly disrespectful erstwhile there's immoderate speculation astir a manager that's successful place."

The Englishman’s declaration was owed to expire successful December, and with speculation suggesting unit was mounting connected Ten Hag – anterior to a tenure-saving FA Cup triumph – Southgate's sanction was being mooted. This definitive diminution seemed to outline a wide stance, but Southgate grew progressively hesitant to unopen down rumours successful the pursuing months.

‘Not a gambling man’

A period later, Southgate sat down with ITV News - Euro 2024 was connected the horizon. Again, it was customary to question him astir his managerial future. Yet, this time, helium was acold little condemning.

"They tin marque their likelihood but it’s not a speech that’s been had with me," Southgate replied erstwhile told helium was odds-on to beryllium United's adjacent caput coach.

"I’m not a large gambling man. I’ve got 1 happening to absorption connected and that’s having arsenic palmy a tourney with England arsenic possible. Everything other is simply a implicit irrelevance to me.

‘"If I commencement talking astir that, past I'm already distracted from what I'm doing, truthful I deliberation the state would expect that my absorption is connected England, and rightly so."

This answer, whilst slamming speculation arsenic ‘irrelevant,’ was not a categorical nary and showed a speedy alteration of bosom from the ‘disrespectful’ labelling successful March.

‘Not an issue’

Days later, the England brag would again look rather unconditional erstwhile faced with a question helium had denounced a period earlier, this clip speaking to BBC Sport.

"Well, for me, it's not an contented and ne'er has been," Southgate stated erstwhile asked astir his declaration entering its last six months. He besides added a cardinal snippet astir home management, indicating that helium mightiness person begun shifting into specified a mindset.

"There volition ever beryllium speculation astir managers," helium continued erstwhile pressed astir replacing Ten Hag. “Because if you suffer a mates of games, you're successful occupation - you triumph a mates of games, and it is simply a antithetic agenda."

Southgate’s statement of what it takes to negociate successful the Premier League indicates that the anticipation of taking up a nine relation had entered his court, and upon his exit from the England job, this became adjacent much vivid.

‘Lots of opportunities’

Weeks aft stepping down from England duties and taking up a method perceiver relation with UEFA, Southgate came cleanable successful aboriginal September astir what his aboriginal whitethorn hold.

"I person tons of opportunities," helium told Sky News. "I americium precise unfastened to what's next. That mightiness beryllium successful football, that mightiness beryllium extracurricular of football."

Rumours suggested that Ratcliffe made interaction with his No. 1 people successful the summer, and if these ‘opportunities’ are thing to spell by, past the Red Devils whitethorn beryllium connected the 54-year-old’s radar going forward.

Though helium added that he’d “take immoderate time” and “recharge,” it is wide that Southgate is not done with shot and has shown immoderate leaning towards nine absorption – meaning that a lifelong ambition could beryllium the extremity helium sets his sights connected next.

‘I wanted Man Utd’

Despite being divulged 4 years earlier Southgate would find himself without a job, the Englishman’s ‘dreams’ driblet a precise telling hint arsenic to wherever he’d similar his adjacent section to beryllium spun.

"I had 2 goals," Southgate told BT Sports successful 2020. "I wanted to play for England and Manchester United, actually. I ne'er got the accidental to play for Manchester United."

In what seemed to person been a regretful revelation, Southgate, a documented boyhood United fan, intelligibly holds a brushed spot for the nine that has allegedly earmarked him arsenic a aboriginal caput coach.

Though helium has endured immense scrutiny portion managing his state - and would look akin bombardments should helium beryllium offered and judge the occupation astatine Old Trafford - determination is nary uncertainty that an affinity for the nine is held.

Whether helium would take to instrumentality up the reins is simply a antithetic story, but determination has been a wide progression that indicates helium is mentally gearing up for a caller tale, and apt a nine role. Combine this with his admitted ‘opportunities,’ Ratcliffe’s admiration and a boyhood emotion matter with the Red Devils, and the United slipper whitethorn yet fit.

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