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Man Utd news: Zinedine Zidane on United's list of six Jose Mourinho replacements
MANCHESTER UNITED are backing Jose Mourinho for now - but reportedly have Zinedine Zidane on a list of six potential successors.
Zidane cannot save Manchester United says expert
Manchester United manager Mourinho is under-fire just three games into the new Premier League season with defeats to Brighton and Tottenham plunging his job into uncertainty.
For now, Express Sport understands the Red Devils will stick, rather than twist. Ed Woodward, despite axing David Moyes and Louis van Gaal in the past, is keen to avoid any knee-jerk reactions.
Yet the Independent say Manchester United are making contingency plans in case the situation worsens.
It is claimed that they have Zidane on the list, with the Frenchman out of work after leaving Real Madrid in May.
Yet Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham is their ideal candidate instead.
Pochettino is seen as difficult to obtain, though, due to the fact Tottenham would not let him leave halfway through the season.
Negotiations would also be difficult in the summer given his importance to the club.
Zidane is available for now but quit Real to take a sabbatical. There are yet to be any signs he would back down on that plan.
But the Independent say four other names are in the frame.
Didier Deschamps, fresh from winning the World Cup with France, makes the list.
Leonardo Jardim has worked wonders at Monaco and also makes the cut.
Massimiliano Allegri, who has helped Juventus become Italy’s dominant force, has been included.
Pochettino should replace Mourinho at Man United says Cundy
But a shock fourth name is Everton manager Marco Silva.
Silva has only just taken over at Goodison Park but it appears United are among his admirers.
For now, Mourinho's job is safe.
But defeat to Burnley on Sunday will reportedly see him axed.