Erik ten Hag was a dead man walking at Manchester United – Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer said Erik ten Hag had been a "dead man walking" after it emerged Manchester United sounded out other managers in the summer.

Ten Hag was sacked as United boss on Monday following a disappointing start to the season, with United confirming Ruud van Nistelrooy will take interim charge.

The team slipped to 14th in the Premier League table following their fourth league defeat of the season, by West Ham on Sunday.

Speculation had mounted over the Dutchman's position in recent weeks and regained intensity after he remained in his position at the end of last season.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, hosted by fellow former England striker Gary Lineker, Shearer believes Ten Hag’s sacking was inevitable in the end.

He said: "We were just waiting for it to happen. Even the way he was talking that 'we’re all on the same page’.

"Well, they weren’t really on the same page because everyone knew they were talking to managers in the summer.

"If they’re on the same page why on earth are they speaking to managers in the summer? As soon as that came out we all said he was a dead man walking, unfortunately.

"For them then to give him a new contract after that was bizarre really, and to back him with £200million, and in nearly four months they’ve sacked him. Bizarre."

United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe kept faith with Ten Hag following United’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City in May, but Lineker believes there was a "degree of eventuality" regarding the Dutchman’s departure.

Lineker said: "It’s been an ongoing saga, which started in the summer just before the FA Cup (final) when we got wind of the fact United were sounding out other coaches.

"They seemed to go for Thomas Tuchel but he didn’t take the job, then they subsequently went