Thomas Tuchel could soon be off the table as an Erik ten Hag replacement option for Manchester United if he becomes England's new manager after reported talks with the FA. But Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have been claimed to have an alternative top-choice to succeed the Dutchman at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag has survived the sack after Tuesday's six-hour meeting between the club's decision brokers - including the three-person executive committee of Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer and Sir Dave Brailsford - in London.
However, he remains under severe pressure for results after overseeing just seven wins in United's last 30 games in the Premier League and Europe.
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Tuchel is considered the current favourite to take charge should United be forced to make a change in the coming weeks and months.
The German coach held talks with Ratcliffe in Monaco after leaving Bayern Munich in the summer, but they didn't progress.
He reportedly wasn't the 71-year-old's dream appointment after completing his £1.3billion investment for a 28 per cent stake in United in February, though.
Earlier this year, Foot Mercato claimed that, in line with his ambition to do whatever it takes to restore United's former glories, Ratcliffe wanted to lure Zinedine Zidane to M16.
A report stated that INEOS dreamt of replacing Ten Hag with the Frenchman. Jean-Claude Blanc, now on the United board, is said to have attempted to recruit him at Paris Saint-Germain.
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Zidane has been waiting in the background for the right opportunity to arise since he resigned from Real Madrid for a second time in 2021.
Across his two spells at the helm, the 52-year-old lifted two La Liga titles and clinched three consecutive Champions League crowns from 2015 to 2018.
It has been speculated that he's waiting for Didier Deschamps' reign as France manager to end before taking the reins.
However, RMC report that Deschamps has no intention to step down in the near future ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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It's claimed that the current France boss, who lifted the World Cup in 2018, is reluctant to surrender his position to Zidane, who he fears will overshadow his legacy.
Zidane's availability is an opportunity for Ratcliffe, who could intensify his interest if Tuchel suddenly becomes out of contention.
United's priority remains backing Ten Hag in the hope that he can oversee an upturn in results as soon as possible after the October break.
If there is no improvement, he might not last until November's two-week block of international football.
