MANCHESTER UNITED have held “secret talks” with “a number of managers” according to reports, leaving Erik ten Hag’s future in serious doubt.

The Dutchman held onto his job this summer after the Old Trafford hierarchy, headed up by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, decided to hand him a new deal.

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But that was only after interviewing potential replacements, including Thomas Tuchel, who has since taken over as England boss.

According to the Daily Mail, United are back in the market scoping out a possible successor to Ten Hag.

It is claimed chief executive Omar Berrada already travelled to Spain for talks with former Barcelona manager Xavi.

Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, ex-Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are also said to be on a four-man shortlist.

Gareth Southgate – who stepped down as Three Lions manager after Euro 2024 – and out-of-work Graham Potter are also linked.

United are 12th in the Premier League table going into their trip to West Ham this Sunday.

And Ten Hag’s side have failed to win any of their first three Europa League ties following a draw with Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

The ex-Ajax boss has consistently insisted that he is on the same page as United’s leadership team of Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Paul Scholes: No improvements under Ten Hag

Man Utd legend Paul Scholes insisted he is yet to see any improvements under Erik ten Hag’s side this season.

He said: “I think they have played in spells where they’ve looked okay. They have missed a lot of chances as well.

“But I think league position tells you everything. And I’m talking about both leagues, 11th in the Premier League, 21st in the Europa League.

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“There’s been no improvement. I think that’s the biggest disappointment with two and a little bit years in, a lot of money has been spent and we’re not seeing improvement.

“You’d like to think by now they’re up there challenging them. The top three teams I know Liverpool, City and Arsenal are ahead of most other teams.

“You’d like to see them getting even a little bit closer to that, but it doesn’t feel like it…”

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But billionaire Ineos owner Ratcliffe refuses to give Ten Hag his public backing.

And United’s co-owners are weighing up their options again amid concern over the lack of progress after another £200million was spent on transfers.

Ten Hag brought in Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraou this summer.

But United legend Paul Scholes claimed he is yet to see any improvements following a 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce this week.

He said: “I think they have played in spells where they’ve looked okay. They have missed a lot of chances as well.

“But I think league position tells you everything. And I’m talking about both leagues, 11th in the Premier League, 21st in the Europa League.

“There’s been no improvement. I think that’s the biggest disappointment with two and a little bit years in, a lot of money has been spent and we’re not seeing improvement.

“You’d like to think by now they’re up there challenging them. The top three teams I know Liverpool, City and Arsenal are ahead of most other teams.

“You’d like to see them getting even a little bit closer to that, but it doesn’t feel like it.

“I do actually think on Saturday they got closer to having the best team out, which has been a while.

“I think Luke Shaw still needs to come into that. They’ve got the young lad Leny Yoro who will probably come into that.

“Mainoo back into midfield and I thought there were signs, second half especially, that they scored two really good goals which excited you. So look fingers crossed they can go on and improve.”

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The UFC 308 live stream online will feature all the early action on the Topuria vs. Holloway fight card from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday night.

The UFC 308 live stream online will kick off at 10 a.m. ET above. There will be eight fights on this portion of the card, and those fights are listed below.

Geoff Neal vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Mateusz Rebecki vs. Myktybek Orolbai

Abus Magomedov vs. Brunno Ferreira

Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Chris Barnett

Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo

Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva

Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal

Ibo Aslan vs. Raffael Cerqueira

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CRYSTAL PALACE are the most surprising member of the four clubs yet to win a Premier League game this season.

The Eagles won six of their last seven matches to finish 10th last season after beating the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Aston Villa.

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But they have fallen flat on their face this term, leaving Austrian boss Oliver Glasner having to front up to question marks over his future.

He has a reputation for falling out with chiefs at previous clubs but staff and players haven’t noticed a shift in his mood yet. And despite the terrible start Glasner has credit in the bank.

SunSport’s JACK ROSSER looks at a few reasons why things are not as they should be at Selhurst Park…

DEFENSIVE ISSUES

CRYSTAL PALACE were not only devastating going forwards once they hit their stride at the end of last season, they had a solid foundation — using three centre-backs — to build from too.

But there appear to be one too many cracks at the back so far this season — few of the Eagles’ own making.

Joachim Andersen was sold to Fulham in a £30million deal, breaking up the successful pairing of the Dane and Marc Guehi.

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Although, due to Guehi’s knee injury last season, the duo only played in the same Glasner team once and the England man was used in central midfield in that game on the last day of the campaign.

Guehi, 24, himself had a hectic summer, first starring at Euro 2024 with the Three Lions before a drawn-out pursuit by Newcastle ended up with him staying put.

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Whether it is fatigue or distraction, Guehi has not looked his usual self this term.

Spanish-born Morocco centre-back Chadi Riad, 21, was signed from Barcelona to add depth but picked up a knee problem in the Carabao Cup second-round, while USA ace Chris Richards, 24, has also had fitness issues.

STRIKER STRUGGLES

JEAN PHILIPPE-MATETA’S transformation into a lethal striker was key to Oliver Glasner’s early success with Crystal Palace.

The 27-year-old French striker scored 13 goals in as many games under the Eagles boss to end last season.

But a summer spent playing at the Olympics and frustration over contract negotiations have marred this season.

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Mateta has just two Prem goals this term — both against Leicester — with relations between him and the club threatening to turn sour after he was offered a deal with wages well below where he feels they should be.

Palace signed Eddie Nketiah, 25, for £25million from Arsenal, though the former England Under-21 international is yet to net for his new club in the Premier League.

WHARTON HAMPERED

ADAM WHARTON’S rise from the Championship to the England squad was one of the stories of the second half of last season.

The midfielder, signed from Blackburn in January for an initial £18million, was an instant hit in South London and was at the heart of Crystal Palace’s superb finish to 2023-24.

However, after not getting a single minute in Germany with the Three Lions, Wharton, 20, sustained a groin injury during his short pre-season which has continued to niggle and impacted his form.

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He has still been playing games but has required injections and painkillers to do so while it is expected he will need surgery.

There has been some frustration that after withdrawing from the England U21s squad this month and then not being involved against Nottingham Forest that the operation was not done during the last international break.

A fit Wharton at the top of his game would make a world of difference.

OLISE’S ABSENCE

CRYSTAL PALACE accepted early last season that it would almost certainly be their last with Michael Olise on the books.

His electric form earned a £50million move to German giants Bayern Munich and the Frenchman has been sorely missed as talisman.

Oliver Glasner points out that Olise, 22, was not even fit for half of his games as Palace manager last season, which is true, but he was involved in five of the seven wins that they picked up.

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The lack of a like-minded presence appears to have hit Eberechi Eze’s form too.

While he has gone close on many occasions and had a perfectly-good stunner ruled out against Brentford, the mercurial midfielder has not been at his best.

The man brought in to effectively replace Olise, Daichi Kamada, has struggled to adapt.

Japan international Kamada was one of Glasner’s stars at former club Eintracht Frankfurt but has looked out of place in the Premier League so far.

The 28-year-old, one of the top earners following his arrival on a free transfer after a year at Lazio, has struggled to compete deeper in midfield and has not been able to create enough when played further forwards.