Some Manchester United players delaying decisions on futures as they expect Erik ten Hag to be sacked

Some Manchester United players are delaying decisions on their futures due to uncertainty over whether Erik ten Hag will still be at the club next season.

A number of United players are convinced Ten Hag will not remain in charge beyond the current season with the team languishing in seventh in the Premier League table.

Seven senior players are out of contract in the summer while there is uncertainty over the futures of several other squad members amid the upheaval following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment.

United have won one of their past seven league games and fourth-placed Aston Villa are now a near-unassailable 13 points clear of Ten Hag's side. United's plight is so severe they have four points fewer than they had at the same stage under David Moyes in 2013-14 - their worst season in the Premier League era.

New co-owner Ratcliffe has declined to give public assurances Ten Hag will be in situ next season and the Ineos Group have assessed prospective replacements.

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Ten Hag, who was appointed by United two years ago, said earlier this month he has "no doubts" he will enter the third year of his contract at United.

There was surprise that United players were given a day off last Monday when ordinarily they would be expected to report for a recovery session. Club sources have said Ten Hag treats recovery days more seriously than any other recent United manager.

Alejandro Garnacho could become the latest United player to be disciplined by Ten Hag after he liked tweets from a YouTuber questioning his half-time removal in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday.

The winger has been