Paul Merson backtracks on Graham Potter's Manchester United credentials after poor Brighton form

Paul Merson believes Brighton manager Graham Potter has blown his chance of securing a top job like at Manchester United.

Potter has established the Seagulls as Premier League mainstays and as recently as the turn of the year saw his side in contention for a European place. As a result, Potter was talked about as a potential permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

However, a spell of six straight defeats before hosting Norwich on Saturday has seen Brighton slide down the table and seen Potter slip out of the conversation for a bigger job. Ajax's Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino remain frontrunners for the United job.

ALSO READ: Manchester United give update on next manager process after Erik ten Hag interview.

"We were talking six weeks ago, I was waxing-lyrical I thought he was unbelievable, great manager, could be the next Manchester United manager," Merson said on Sky Sports. "All of a sudden, he starts changing his team, popping it around, taking Lamptey off when they're on top against Newcastle and Bissouma doesn't play in a game then they bring him on.

"Does he start believing in his own publicity and I think it's backfired. It's all about timings, if they were where Arsenal are now, he would be majorly thought of top runners for the Man United - now, no chance."

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