Prem boss admits ‘open’ to joining Man Utd as post-Tuchel shortlist emerges

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has refused to shut down speculation he could join Premier League rivals Manchester United and replace Erik ten Hag.

Netherlands manager Ten Hag has avoided the sack during the international break, with Man Utd bosses Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada opting to stick with the 54-year-old despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recommendation to sack him . While Ten Hag remain at the top, Man Utd’s hierarchy could pull the trigger if the team rack up even more disappointing results against the likes of Brentford, Fenerbahce and West Ham United in the coming weeks.

Thomas Tuchel was Ratcliffe’s No.1 target, should Ten Hag be sacked, but the German has since agreed to become the new England boss from January 1.

Ahead of his side’s trip to Old Trafford on Saturday, which could further increase the pressure on the Ten Hag, Frank was asked to clarify his future.

While the 51-year-old is enjoying his time at Brentford, he is not done with Man Utd links.

“I’ve said many times that I’m very happy at Brentford,” said Frank talkSPORT.

“Who knows what will happen in the future. Maybe I’ll stay here for many years. I’m open, maybe something happens.

“But first of all, very happy, just working very hard every day to improve the club.”

Frank added: “It’s very difficult to predict the future. Who knows what will happen.

“How many coaches have been at the same club for more than six years? Very few (It’s) the nature of the game, let’s put it that way.”

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Thomas Frank on Man Utd’s hit list

Frank is a contender for the Man Utd role, although he is not at the top of the pile as things stand. Sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and former Chelsea boss Graham Potter are being considered, with INEOS set to appoint a British manager for Man Utd.

Howe will be the more difficult of the two to appoint as Newcastle have shown with Ashworth that they will not let their key personnel go without a fight.

Potter is a free agent, although it remains to be seen whether he has enough credit left in the bank after struggling at Chelsea.

Frank, meanwhile, has done a fantastic job at Brentford, having helped the Bees achieve promotion to the Premier League for the first time. They have since established themselves as top-flight regulars and finished as high as ninth in the 2022-23 campaign.

Although, Man Utd fans may want a more glamorous name at the helm, if Ten Hag leaves. Zinedine Zidane is a name that has been mentioned as it is claimed that there are private talks between him and Man Utd manager Jean-Claude Blanc.

However, it will be difficult to convince Zidane to head to the Premier League for the first time.

READ MORE: Ranking of all the players that Erik ten Hag has signed for Man Utd from worst to best

Man Utd transfers: Antony’s new price, Real Madrid battles

Meanwhile, Man Utd have put a new price on Antony’s failed signing as they look to move him on.

The Brazilian had previously been valued at up to £25m, but the Daily Mail state that Man Utd’s asking price is actually £40m.

The Red Devils are aware that no club will want to pay that in January. As such, they hope to offload Antony this winter before selling him at the end of the campaign.

While Antony looks set to be kicked out of Man Utd, club chiefs want to bring in a new left-back who can be more reliable than injured pair Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

Man Utd have claimed interest in both Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and their former player Alvaro Fernández Carreras, who joined Benfica permanently in the summer.

But according to reports in Germany, Man Utd know it will be difficult to get Davies to reject Real Madrid’s advances and join them.

Man Utd have a buy-back clause when it comes to Fernandez, although the Spaniard would prefer to return to his home country by signing for Madrid.

Ratcliffe and company. beat Madrid to Leny Yoro in the summer, but Los Blancos could get revenge with Davies and Fernandez in 2025.

Brentford’s top signings for Thomas Frank

The scale of Man Utd’s job would be bigger than anything Frank has been in charge of before, as seen in a comparison of Brentford’s 10 most expensive signings during his reign.

The club have not been afraid to back Frank, especially as he has been building his squad for Premier League stability, frequently breaking his transfer record over the past six years.

But Brentford’s biggest signing would not break into Man Utd’s top 15 in the same period of time Frank has been in charge, showing the difference in environment he would have to adapt to.

That said, many of United’s big-money signings have failed, while Brentford have been building a sustainable project.