Manchester United should consider radical manager move if Pochettino and Ten Hag pursuits fail

Marcelo Bielsa.

Right, listen. I know what you're thinking: 'What?! Marcelo Bielsa?! The man who has never won a major trophy in over thirty years of management?! The guy who has just been sacked by Leeds United, a team in free fall having conceded 40 goals in just 12 games and looking likely for the drop?! The fella who sits on a bucket?! The manager so married to his style of football that he will never compromise regardless of the opposition he may face or the trouble his team might be in?! A former Leeds manager!?"

And yes, that's the right man. Some criticisms of him may well be justified but others are ignorant. Manchester United should, at the very least, consider what he could bring to the club. They might just be surprised.

That's only if they fail to get their top targets, though. The search is well underway, as the Manchester Evening News reported in January, with United aiming to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's full-time replacement before the end of the season.

READ MORE: John Murtough gives update on managerial search

The issue with that aim is that the top contenders - Mauricio Pochettino and Erik Ten Hag - are both still in high profile jobs at giant European clubs and still pushing for trophies on multiple fronts. It seems unlikely that either will upset their chances of winning silverware by deviating their focus from the task at hand.

Even then, maybe United isn't much of an appealing role especially if Champions League football isn't assured. It would benefit both candidates to wait out the season and see just what job they'd be walking into Old Trafford before deciding if they wish to sip from the poisoned chalice.

Football director John Murtough provided an update on the search on Tuesday and said