Former England boss Gareth Southgate has emerged as a potential candidate for the Manchester United job
Gareth Southgate has unsurprisingly been named as a potential candidate to succeed Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager. The Portuguese boss was given his marching orders on Monday, bringing an end to his turbulent 14-month tenure at Old Trafford.
United have appointed club legend Darren Fletcher as interim boss while they search for their seventh permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Southgate, who last managed England in the Euro 2024 final, has been consistently linked with the United job since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in the club in February 2024.
Last October, it was rumoured that Southgate was considering putting his name in the mix during Amorim’s reign. Now, reports have resurfaced linking him with the vacancy, although there are suggestions he has concerns about whether he’ll be granted the necessary time to build his squad.
With this in mind, Mirror Football examines how United might line up next season under the 55-year-old if he were given control over transfers.
The system
Given the controversy surrounding Amorim’s failed 3-4-2-1 formation, it seems unlikely that Southgate would adopt the same setup if he takes on the United job. The wing-back experiment could well be finished, despite Southgate finding considerable success with a similar structure at the 2018 World Cup and in his last tournament with the Three Lions.
READ MORE: Ruben Amorim banned FIVE players from first-team training before Lisandro Martinez bust-upREAD MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson sent Darren Fletcher warning before taking Man Utd job
Southgate is more likely to opt for a 4-3-2-1 or a 4-3-3 formation, although his teams are typically defined by core principles rather than specific formations. His tactical approach largely focuses on shielding his defence with a double pivot positioned behind the No.10, favouring structured games over high-intensity pressing.
Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens
After initially spending time on the bench following his move from Royal Antwerp in the summer, Lammens has established himself as United’s first-choice goalkeeper and appears to be the long-term No.1. The Belgian has settled in well and it seems unlikely that Southgate would prioritise recruiting a new goalkeeper, although his former dependable England shot-stopper Jordan Pickford may be of interest.
Defenders: Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw
When fit, Lisandro Martinez is one of United’s most crucial players at the heart of the defence, thanks to his ball-playing skills and defensive leadership. Southgate would relish the opportunity to pair him in central defence with Marc Guehi, whose contract at Crystal Palace expires in the summer.
United would need a stroke of luck to secure Guehi’s signature, with recent links to Manchester City and Liverpool. However, Southgate has built a strong rapport with the defender, having made him a regular starter for England. Another of Southgate’s trusted England defenders, Luke Shaw, is likely to take up the left-back position.
This leaves Tino Livramento, another England international, as an ideal signing at right-back. The Newcastle defender, who has already been linked with a move to Old Trafford, is highly rated and would be a versatile addition in defence, capable of also covering the opposite flank.
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount
Notably absent from this trio are captain Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. Fernandes has served United well, but has previously been linked with leaving United to sign a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia. Summer recruit Matheus Cunha could step into the No. 10 role vacated by Fernandes.
Southgate gave Mainoo his England debut and could rotate him with Cunha and Mason Mount, depending on the opposition. Mount embodied Southgate’s style of football on the international stage.
Elliot Anderson, who could either join Mainoo in the pivot or play as a lone six with Mount and Cunha further forward, has emerged as one of United’s top targets in recent months. Now a regular starter for both England and Nottingham Forest, Anderson could be the signing United have needed to bolster their midfield.
However, the energetic Forest star could fetch a sum as high as £100m in the summer, with the likes of City also reportedly interested in him.
Forwards: Bryan Mbeumo, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford
Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate enjoyed an incredible relationship during their years working together for England. Kane, who is enjoying another prolific season at Bayern Munich, insists he’s happy in Germany, but Southgate being in charge at United may be the push he needs to return to the Premier League and break Alan Shearer’s goal-scoring record.
Bryan Mbeumo has been one of United’s better players since he signed in the summer, operating from his favoured right flank with Amad playing the role of back-up. That presents a huge opportunity for Marcus Rashford to return to the fold on the left flank after his falling out with former boss Amorim forced him out on loan to Aston Villa and now Barcelona.
It’s still unclear whether Barcelona will activate their option-to-buy clause at the end of this season. Should Rashford return to his boyhood club, Southgate would be the ideal man to help the forward thrive at Old Trafford once again.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
