Who could replace Erik ten Hag at Man United? Pressure mounts on Red Devils manager amid speculation he'll be sacked

Once again, a Manchester United manager's job is under threat, in what seems like a regular event the past few years.

The latest victim to the failing football operations at the once-dominant club is Erik ten Hag, who finds himself under increased criticism as the season continues to flounder under his leadership. The Dutchman's downward spiral seems the fastest since his fellow countryman Louis van Gaal took on the same task before his axe in 2016.

It was only in February this year when United beat La Liga champions Barcelona across two legs in the Europa League, and later lifted their first trophy since 2017 as they beat Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final. At that point, the promise of a return to prominence felt high.

Fewer than nine months on, Eddie Howe's Magpies avenged their defeat at Wembley in United's own backyard in early November, completing the second leg of back-to-back 3-0 defeats for Ten Hag, following in the footsteps of Manchester City who also inflicted humiliation at the Theatre of Dreams just three days prior.

After snatching a late win at Fulham, any sense of a possible positive run was once again ended as early as possible as United lost their next match. The Red Devils were 2-0 up and in control against Copenhagen before Marcus Rashford was sent off, and they eventually lost the match 4-3, leaving them with a mountain to climb if they are to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockouts.

The Sporting News takes a look at which options the United board could consider as the next man to take charge of the Red Devils, in the event they decide to pull the trigger on Ten Hag.

Rating each of Erik ten Hag's signings at Man United

It feels as though these articles are penned every few years nowadays,