Ten Hag is admired by top German clubs and could be hired if Man Utd sack him

Erik ten Hag is reportedly admired by multiple top German clubs and could be handed a rapid return to management if Manchester United sack him.

His future is under scrutiny and new partial owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly sees Gareth Southgate as his top target to replace him.

Manchester United have failed to kick on following last season's third-place finish. Out of the Champions League and languishing in sixth, their only chance of silverware is the FA Cup.

The season has been marred by inconsistency but that has not deterred multiple top German clubs from being interested in him.

According to the Daily Star, all three of the Bundesliga's top-performing clubs this season are keen on him.

Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on him while Bayer Leverkusen and VFB Stuttgart are also keen if they lose their managers.

While Bayern's chief target is Xabi Alonso, they will look at Ten Hag if they cannot poach him from Leverkusen.

And should Leverkusen lose Alonso to Bayern or Liverpool, Ten Hag is on their radar as a possible replacement.

Stuttgart's manager Sebastian Hoeness signed a contract extension this month, but if Bayern missed out on Alonso they could approach him instead, and therefore they also have an eye on Ten Hag.

While Ten Hag's stock has come under considerable strain in England,the admiration for him appears greater on the continent.

His five years at Ajax, where he won three Erevidisie titles and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, are not easily forgotten.

In Manchester United's brave new world under Ratcliffe, progress is the name of the game and failure to finish in the Champions League spots will be a huge disappointment.

Ratcliffe is increasingly confident of tempting Southgate to Old Trafford after his INEOS sports team canvassed United legends.

They claim that Southgate, who has been England boss since 2016, has the backing of some of United's current players - and also incoming director of football Dan Ashworth.

Southgate and Ashworth worked together at the Football Association and would reportedly be keen to team up again.

Southgate's contract with the Three Lions expires in December this year, after the European Championship in Germany, with the Football Association eager to get him to extend it.

The Star say it will all depend on whether Southgate is willing to walk away from the national team job and the report says it would cost Ratcliffe around £800,000 in compensation.

Southgate, who has been England boss since 2016, has refused to discuss his future beyond the Euros - but Ratcliffe is understandably keen to get a decision quickly.

Meanwhile, Harry Maguire says England's players want Southgate to stay on for the 2026 World Cup.