Zinedine Zidane ‘not negotiating’ with Manchester United after positive Erik ten Hag talks

Manchester United are reportedly not currently in talks with Zinedine Zidane regarding the manager’s position.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has refused to be drawn into discussing the future of Erik ten Hag but the Manchester Evening News understands that he is not totally sold on the Dutchman being a long-term option. He has won just half of the club's 38 games so far this campaign.

Ten Hag said he held "very positive" initial talks with Ratcliffe and his Ineos cohort in January, stating that they were “on the same page” regarding several issues. United are battling Premier League spending constraints this summer and sacking compensation counts towards expenditure.

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Furthermore, the club may be required to fork out a fee to land Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth, who is currently on gardening leave, albeit United are unwilling to meet the £20m demand put on him.

Ratcliffe branded the asking price as “silly”, adding: “What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.”

The Ineos chief has already captured new CEO Omar Berrada from Manchester City and could ring in a number of other staff changes, including in the dugout. Reports in France last month mooted that Ratcliffe sees Zidane as his ideal replacement for Ten Hag.

However, journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that there has been no contact with the Real Madrid icon. “I must stress, though, that I’m not aware of contacts between Zidane and Manchester United so far. Nothing is concrete on that, as of now,” he said as per Caught Offside.

“Let’