Manchester United have reportedly identified Brentford manager Thomas Frank as a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim, should the Portuguese's struggles at Old Trafford continue.
Amorim was only appointed head coach of the 20-time English champions in November, and he has managed to lead the team into the knockout round of the Europa League and fifth round of the FA Cup.
However, Man United have struggled badly in England's top flight since the 40-year-old's arrival, with 29 points from 25 matches leaving them down in 15th spot in the Premier League table.
The Red Devils lost 1-0 to fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and there has been huge criticism of Amorim's tactics since his arrival, with a number of the club's players struggling to adapt to the new-look 3-4-3 formation.
Ex-Man United captain Gary Neville was highly critical of Amorim's tactics during the clash with Spurs, telling Sky Sports: "The distance between the two centre midfielders for United is all wrong. Look where [Bruno] Fernandes is, look where Casemiro is. It breaks all rules of football.
"It's absolute madness. The structure of the team is awful. The two in midfield are split. It's embarrassing. You wouldn't see this in under-nines football. Look at that space in midfield. Shocking."
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Amorim's future as Man United head coach is being called into question
Amorim remains confident that he has the backing of Man United and will be given time to make his mark.
"I am not worried. I understand our fans, what the media think about it. I hate to lose, that feeling is the worst. It's hard to face them [the fans] in this moment. But we are doing everything, I'm doing everything," the Portuguese told reporters.
However, according to Fichajes, Man United will give serious consideration to making a change if Amorim's struggles continue, and Brentford manager Frank is seen as the top target to replace the Portuguese.
The report claims that Frank would be 'the chosen one to lead a new project in Manchester' if it was decided that Amorim was not the right manager to lead the team through an incredibly difficult period.
Frank has been in charge of Brentford since October 2018, boasting a record of 126 wins, 73 draws and 105 defeats from his 304 games at the helm, and the 51-year-old is viewed as one of the most talented managers in England's top flight.
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Could Amorim seriously lose this job this early at Man United?
There is no getting away from the fact that Man United are struggling under Amorim, with the Portuguese having a disappointing record of nine wins, three draws and nine defeats from his 21 games at the helm.
Serious questions continue to be asked about Amorim's 3-4-3 system, but he must be given a chance to make his mark and have at least one summer transfer window to bring in specialist players for the formation.
The problem, though, is that if it does not work out, and a change has to be made next season, then there will be a number of Amorim signings being asked to potentially play in yet another formation.
The Europa League is the priority for Man United this season, and while the team remain in the competition, Amorim is almost certain to keep his job, but if the Red Devils exit both cups and continue to lose in the Premier League, then there will have to be some uncomfortable conversations among the leadership figures at Old Trafford.
Matt Law
