Man Utd ‘rejected by first-choice coach’ as Erik ten Hag offered lifeline

Manchester United offered Simone Inzaghi the opportunity to replace Erik ten Hag in recent days, according to reports. But the Inter Milan boss is said to have turned down the approach, potentially sparking Ineos' second search for Ten Hag's successor since the end of last season.

Inzaghi emerged as a 'serious contender' to become United's sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's 2013 retirement earlier this month.

Ineos are claimed to have been unsuccessful in their attempts to lure him away from the San Siro, though, where he lifted the Serie A title in May.

According to Sport Italia, frantic talks have been ongoing within the walls of Old Trafford as club figures ponder whether to part ways with Ten Hag.

The report adds that Inzaghi was tabled the chance to enter the United dugout during the October international break, which he resisted.

It could suggest that the plan is to pull the trigger, regardless of the result in Sunday's daunting Premier League trip to Aston Villa.

United's owners, the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, will sanction the final decision. However, that call will come from chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth.

Ratcliffe confirmed as much on Friday when he revealed that he isn't involved in the decision-making process surrounding the club's football teams.

"I don't want to answer that question… I like Erik. I think he's a very good coach," Ratcliffe told the BBC in Barcelona.

"But at the end of the day, it's not my call; it's the management team that's running Manchester United that has to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.

"But that team that's running Manchester United has only been together since June or July.

"They weren't there in January, February, March or April – Omar [Berrada], Dan Ashworth - they only arrived in July.

"They've only been there…you can count it in weeks almost - they've not been there a long time, so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.

"Our objective is very clear - we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it's not there yet, obviously - that's very clear."

Gareth Southgate, Thomas Tuchel and current assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy - appointed by Ten Hag in the summer - have also been strongly linked with the position.

If Inzaghi has declined the United job, Van Nistelrooy could stand in on an interim basis while Ineos devise a back-up plan.