Man United co-owner Sir Ratcliffe 'confident of luring Southgate to Old Trafford

England manager Gareth Southgate is reportedly Sir Jim Ratcliffe's No 1 choice to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer.

Ratcliffe is increasingly confident of tempting Southgate to Old Trafford after his INEOS sports team canvassed United legends, according to the Daily Star.

They claim that Southgate, who has been England boss since 2016, has the backing of some of United's current players - and also incoming director of football Dan Ashworth.

Southgate and Ashworth worked together at the Football Association and would reportedly be keen to team up again.

Southgate's contract with the Three Lions expires in December this year, after the European Championship in Germany, with the Football Association eager to get him to extend it.

The Star say it will all depend on whether Southgate is willing to walk away from the national team job and the report says it would cost Ratcliffe around £800,000 in compensation.

Southgate, who has been England boss since 2016, has refused to discuss his future beyond the Euros - but Ratcliffe is understandably keen to get a decision quickly.

Despite making it through to the FA Cup semi-finals and remaining in the hunt to qualify for next season's Champions League, new part-owner Ratcliffe isn't convinced Ten Hag is the man to take United forward.

Ten Hag would pocket up to £10million in compensation should he be sacked a year before his contract at United is due to expire in 2025.

Southgate's England are among the favourites to win Euro 2024 after the former Middlesbrough and England under-21 boss led them to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.

It comes as Ratcliffe oversees a shake-up of the United hierarchy after spending £1.3billion for a 27.7 per