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Coach who won just 39% of his PL games could replace Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United

Erik ten Hag is under pressure heading into the Manchester derby this afternoon and a new name has emerged as a shock contender to replace him.

The Dutch coach was doing well just after Christmas but a number of off-field issues and the inconsistency of performances on the field seem to have Ten Hag under pressure again.

Going into the game with City today, Ten Hag knows a win would be absolutely enormous for his career at Old Trafford. Of course, a heavy defeat could also be bad news and see that pressure build further.

And speaking to about Ten Hag’s job, journalist Dean Jones has suggested former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui is someone United could consider.

Manchester United to consider Julen Lopetegui

Speaking about Ten Hag’s situation at United, Jones believes a change could happen and that Lopetegui could be the man to replace him.

“I think someone like Lopetegui is actually probably one of the more intriguing candidates when you consider the levels he’s worked at, how he improves people, how he has fixed teams, the demands he puts on himself and the people around them, and also the drive that he clearly has to get another Premier League job and one that is higher up the ladder than the one he had at Wolves. I think there’s a lot to consider. I do really think that ten Hag is on trial for the rest of the season. I think if ten Hag was sacked tomorrow, I think Lopetegui would be a leading candidate for this job. I’ll be amazed if Man United weren’t to seriously consider him for the job. I think that there’s a lot about Lopetegui that makes sense in this scenario for United,” Jones .

Julen Lopetegui
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images

Lopetegui, 57, was last seen in charge of Wolves but he moved on after not seeing eye to eye with the owners.

Indeed, he only actually won in charge (39%) before moving on and seeing Gary O’Neil impress.

However, he does have experience in the game having managed Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla.

United, then, could see him as a safe pair of hands should they move Ten Hag on.