Man Utd manager latest as leading candidate 'rules himself out' after Sir Jim Ratcliffe talks

Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich man Thomas Tuchel has reportedly ruled himself out of the running to take over at Manchester United. The Red Devils are currently undergoing a comprehensive season review as they reflect on a difficult campaign which ended on the high of an FA Cup win.

Only once that review has been completed will the club make a final decision on the future of Erik ten Hag, with United thought to be considering their options and speaking to other managerial candidates. Thomas Tuchel was one of those the club were keen to speak to this summer following his exit from the Allianz Arena and according to the Guardian, Jim Ratcliffe met with the German in Monaco recently.

The report claims the pair spoke about Tuchel's vision for the club and what he could offer should he be chosen to replace ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot seat. However, the discussion ended with Tuchel ruling himself out after being unsure on Ratcliffe's willingness to appoint him.

Tuchel has been out of work since leaving Bayern at the end of the campaign after spending just one full season with the club. His decision leaves United looking at a host of other options, though, with Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Gareth Southgate and Thomas Frank reportedly under consideration. Kieran McKenna, Graham Potter and Michael Carrick are also among those at the top end of most bookmakers' odds lists with United potentially casting their net far and wide in order to find the right man.

Of course, whether they will even need to appoint a new manager this summer remains to be seen. The club have been reviewing the campaign since their FA Cup win against Manchester City at Wembley at the end of May with the process expected to come to a conclusion in the coming days. Reports circulating before the final suggested ten Hag would lose his job whether United were victorious or not, but the manner of the victory may just have left those decision makers thinking twice. Ten Hag has struggled for traction during his two years in the job.

The Dutchman led United to third place in the Premier League during his first season in charge, while he also took the club to the FA Cup final, where they were beaten by Pep Guardiola's City. The Red Devils may have got revenge over their cross city rivals this time around, but they slumped to an eighth place finish, their lowest in 34 years.

As such, in what promises to be a summer of change in terms of on-field personnel as Ratcliffe looks to make his mark on the team, a change of manager may also be on the cards. Whatever happens, though, the club will be keen to reach a conclusion and begin looking ahead with a clear direction sooner rather than later with the transfer window set to open officially on Friday (June 14th). United have already opted to release a host of players with Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial among those leaving Old Trafford.