Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently had a tête-à-tête with Thomas Tuchel regarding the managerial position at Manchester United, pondering a possible substitution for Erik ten Hag. However, Ratcliffe, who holds sway over United’s football operations, opted out of the running for the job.

Their rendezvous took place in Monaco, where Tuchel, the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea coach, delineated his vision for United. Post their discussions, it seemed Tuchel sensed Ratcliffe’s reluctance to extend an offer, prompting Tuchel to withdraw his candidacy.

Meanwhile, United’s scrutiny of the season, pivotal in determining Ten Hag’s fate, has entered its third week without a set timeline for conclusion.

Apart from Tuchel, other contenders for the managerial mantle include Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi, both currently unattached, along with Brentford’s gaffer Thomas Frank and England’s Gareth Southgate. However, any pursuit of Southgate would have to await the denouement of England’s Euro 2024 journey, commencing this Sunday against Serbia and potentially extending until the final on July 14th.