Manchester United takeover latest as Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'meets with potential Erik ten Hag replacement'

Manchester United are back in Premier League action on Sunday and pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag.

United were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday after a drab 1-0 defeat at home to Bayern Munich. The Reds finished bottom of Group A, meaning they also failed to drop into the Europa League and will play no continental football beyond Christmas.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has always insisted United should be regulars in the Champions League and so Ten Hag is under pressure to arrest his side's poor domestic campaign to secure a top-four spot. There are even reports that the Dutchman could face the sack unless form turns around quickly.

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Ten Hag replacement 'lined up'

Ratcliffe has lined up Graham Potter to replace Ten Hag if he is forced to sack the current United manager, according to reports.

The INEOS chief is expected to take control of footballing operations at the club once his 25 per cent stake is ratified. There have been delays regarding confirmation but his arrival is expected imminently.

Ten Hag lost his 12th game of the season on Tuesday and faces a huge task to retain United's top-four spot in the Premier League. The Dutchman is under pressure and according to The Sun, Ratcliffe has already met with Potter.

The 48-year-old was sacked by Chelsea in April, just seven months after he arrived at Stamford Bridge, after a below-par campaign despite vast expenditure. But Ratcliffe remains a huge fan of Potter from his time at Brighton and Swansea City.

United's Ten Hag stance

United's current hierarchy is sympathetic to the problems surrounding Ten Hag but Ratcliffe's arrival could change