Tuchel 'is on Man United's shortlist' if Ratcliffe decides to replace Ten Hag

Thomas Tuchel is reportedly on Manchester United's shortlist of potential new managers if they decide to axe Erik ten Hag.

The German is poised to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, as announced in February, even though more than 19,000 supporters have signed a petition for him to stay.

Ten Hag is fighting for his future with United sixth in the Premier League table and revving up for a repeat of last year's FA Cup final against Manchester City towards later this month.

Tuchel has led Bayern to a disappointing season domestically but has every chance of reaching the Champions League final. Bayern take on Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final next week, having drawn 2-2 in Germany on Tuesday.

The Times reports that Tuchel is on a list of managers under consideration, although concerns have been raised about his habit of falling out with his bosses at Chelsea and Bayern.

Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 but was sacked in September 2022.

If he joined United, it could be a summer of radical upheaval as they prepare for a fire sale, with only three players safe from the chopping block.

Some believe Bayern could perform a u-turn on their decision to part ways with Tuchel after Ralf Rangnick became the third manager to reject becoming his successor.

Xabi Alonso and Julian Nagelsmann had already turned down the chance to join them.

He has left the door open to staying, saying on Thursday that 'everything is possible' but that 'the agreement (to leave in summer) still stands'.

Bayern are on course to beat last season's points tally and would in usual circumstances seal the title had Leverkusen not recorded a remarkable invincible season.

When news emerged that Bayern were in for Rangnick, fans reacted badly.

Fans established a petition called 'We want Juppel (Thomas Tuchel) and not Rangnick' and to date it has garnered more than 19,000 signatures.

Tuchel initially passed little comment on the matter.

'Even though this topic is good for me when they [the fans] wish you to stay, it's not something that is a priority,' he said before their 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last month.

'It isn't allowed to be a priority. In the next 11 days it's only about football, nothing else. Whether it's pleasant or unpleasant, I don't allow myself to be influenced by it.'

Fault lines have ravaged Tuchel's reign for some time at Bayern, with particular strain between him and the club's honorary president, Uli Hoeness.

Recently, Hoeness upped the ante by questioning Tuchel's attitude as a coach.

'He doesn’t think he can improve a Davies, Pavlovic or Musiala. If it doesn’t work, you should buy someone else,' Hoeness said.

'I think you should work hard on them and give them confidence.'

Tuchel responded: 'It offends me deeply as a coach.

'If we have proven something in the coaching team over the last 15 years, it is that young players - especially from the academy - always have a place with us in training and, through performance, always have a place on the pitch.

'And by the way, we have now proven that! I have very little understanding of it. I find it absolutely baseless!

'This is actually so far away from reality that I wouldn't have reacted to it at all if it hadn't come from Uli.

'The fact that comes from our boss before Real gives it a different flavour.'