Danny Murphy names the manager Manchester Utd should have hired over Erik ten Hag

Danny Murphy has claimed that Manchester United may have been better off appointing Gareth Southgate as their new manager rather than Erik Ten Hag.

United are undergoing big changes this summer with Ten Hag arriving from Ajax with the aim of reshaping the Red Devils into a club that can once again compete at the very top of the Premier League.

While the Dutchman is widely regarded for his tactical mindset and ability to improve young players, there have been persistent questions raised about how he will handle the transition from the Eredivisie to the Premier League, and his lack of experience coaching high-profile players like Cristiano Ronaldo.

‘I think what Ten Hag has done of course is credible, winning the league three times etc,’ Murphy told talkSPORT.

‘But he’s not managed big players at a big club, so we don’t know how he’s going to deal with that pressure.

‘Every part of his life is going to be magnified, whether he goes to the wrong shop at the wrong time, whether he drives the wrong car. Everything he does is going to be talked about.’

Because of this, the former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder suggested that he would like to have seen England boss Southgate given the chance to manage at a top Premier League side like United.

Southgate has proven to be one of the most effective man-managers in the game right now, helping guide the Three Lions to fourth place at the 2018 World Cup and runners-up at last summer’s Euros.

‘I know them [Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland], they’ve come a long way the pair of them, they’ve got a great partnership,’ Murphy added.

‘I think with what they’ve achieved at England, the way he’s managed players, big players, I think he’s evolved into a very intelligent football