Report reveals reasons why United ruled out eight candidates

Manchester United whittled an initial shortlist of eight managers down to just one in their search to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Erik ten Hag is expected to be appointed at Old Trafford after an extensive process, which included an explosive pair of interviews with the Dutchman.

But the club are said to have considered seven other candidates before deciding on the 52-year-old.

The candidacy of Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann and Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel were briefly examined but, as ESPN report, ‘it became clear almost instantly that neither would be a realistic target’.

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Nagelsmann was said to be an ‘impossible’ target, while Tuchel only briefly seemed available due to uncertainty over Chelsea’s future.

Zinedine Zidane was a serious prospect until it was discovered that the only remaining club role the Frenchman would find appealing was Paris Saint-Germain.

Brendan Rodgers became a contender as Manchester United were ‘keen to assess the best domestic option,’ only for Leicester‘s drop in form around the winter to quickly discount him.

With Antonio Conte almost immediately ignored because ‘his demanding and detailed approach would not work’ with the squad, that left Old Trafford chiefs with a final four-man shortlist of Ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui.

Luis Enrique seemed the favourite at one stage but a source suggested “the World Cup killed them”. Lopetegeui, meanwhile,