Thomas Tuchel ‘is on Man United’s shortlist’ if Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides to replace Erik ten Hag – with the German set to leave Bayern Munich in the summer despite fan protests

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

The German is set 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 at sixth-place United in the Premier League and is preparing for a repeat of last year’s FA Cup final against Manchester City later this month.

Tuchel has led Bayern to a disappointing season domestically, but has every chance of reaching the Champions League final. Bayern will take on Real Madrid in the second leg of the semi-finals next week after drawing 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 feuding with his bosses at Chelsea and Bayern.

Erik ten Hag is fighting for his future, but one win in his last six league games does not help

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

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

Some believe Bayern could make a U-turn on their decision to part ways with Tuchel after Ralf Rangnick became the third manager to decline to become 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 Thursday that “anything is possible” but that “the agreement (to leave in the summer) still stands.”

Bayern are on course to improve on last season’s points tally and would under normal circumstances seal the title had Leverkusen not recorded a remarkably invincible season.

When the news broke that Bayern wanted Rangnick, the fans reacted poorly.

Fans have set up a petition entitled ‘We want Juppel (Thomas Tuchel) not Rangnick’ and so far it has collected more than 19,000 signatures.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is willing to make major changes at United and will consider Ten Hag’s position

Ralf Rangnick has reportedly turned down the chance to replace Tuchel as Bayern Munich manager

Tuchel initially made little comment on the matter.

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

‘It shouldn’t be a priority. The next eleven days will be all about football and nothing else. Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, I do not let it influence me.’

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

Hoeness recently upped the ante by questioning Tuchel’s attitude as a coach.

‘He doesn’t think he can improve on Davies, Pavlovic or Musiala. If it doesn’t work, you have to buy someone else,” Hoeness said.

‘I think you have to work hard at it and give them confidence.’

Tuchel replied: ‘It deeply offends me as a coach.

Tuchel left the door open to a stay at Bayern on Thursday, saying: ‘Anything is possible’

‘If we have proven anything in the coaching team over the past fifteen years, it is that young players – especially from the youth academy – always have a place with us in training and, by performing, always have a place on the pitch.

‘And we have now proven that! I know very little about it. I find it absolutely unfounded!

‘This is actually so far removed from reality that I would not have responded to it at all if it had not come from Uli.

‘The fact that it comes from our boss before Real gives it a different touch.’