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Ten Hag hit by double blow as Sir Jim Ratcliffe starts radical overhaul

  /  autty

Manchester United went into the international break with a win by beating relegation candidates Luton 1-0 at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag's side have won four of their last five Premier League games to jump up to sixth in the table and relieve some of the pressure on their manager. Although results in the league have improved, United are still enduring a troublesome campaign.

However, they've lost three of their first four Champions League fixtures to leave them in danger of a group-stage exit, and they're already out of the Carabao Cup after a 3-0 home loss to Newcastle. Ten Hag still has a lot of work to do if he's to turn the tide.

Here are the latest headlines from Old Trafford - including a big update on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's proposed takeover...

Ten Hag's double blow

Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund have both withdrawn from international duty, casting doubt over their fitness. The Denmark internationals sustained issues during the win against Luton, although it's hoped they will be back sooner rather than later.

Diogo Dalot has also withdrawn from the Portugal squad to be with his partner ahead of the birth of their child. He is expected to be available for United's first game after the international break, which is against Everton at Goodison Park on November 26.

Ratcliffe makes presence known

Richard Arnold is stepping down as United's chief executive ahead of Ratcliffe's takeover. The British billionaire is set to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club and is expected to take charge of football operations after a decade without a Premier League title.

Arnold's exit has cast major doubt over the futures of football director John Murtough and director of football operations David Harrison, with Ratcliffe likely to bring his own people in. Cycling supremo Sir Dave Brailsford is expected to be given a major role.

An Oasis of advice

Oasis icon Noel Gallagher believes United should hire Brentford boss Thomas Frank to replace Ten Hag. "United always seems to be a bit fractured to me and their fanbase is quite influential and it all breeds United at best treading water," Gallagher told talkSPORT.

"United need to get some people to lower the expectations in the short term and then get somebody like Thomas Frank to re-shape that club properly from the bottom up."

Gallagher, who is a Manchester City fan, believes United can't continue spending huge amounts of money on big-name players just to appease the fans. He believes City's bitter rivals need "serious football people" to replace current owners the Glazer family.

Gallagher added: "United from the outside, the owners don’t love the club, they don’t like it, they don't respect what the fans have to say... United need to get serious and they’re not going to do that with the Glazers because they’re in it for what they can get out of it."