Premier League giant Manchester United has received a bold suggestion for its managerial shake-up. Former Sky Sports host Richard Keys has proposed a plan that involves sacking current manager Erik ten Hag and appointing a former Liverpool star as his replacement. The Red Devils' recent 1-0 defeat to Newcastle has put Ten Hag's position under scrutiny, and Keys believes it's time for a change at Old Trafford.
United's lackluster performance against Newcastle, coupled with its struggles in both the Premier League and the Champions League, has led Keys to call for Ten Hag's dismissal. With only Crystal Palace and the bottom four teams in the league scoring fewer goals than United this season, Keys argues that it's time for the former Ajax head coach to make way for a fresh approach.
Keys suggests that Xabi Alonso, who enjoyed a successful spell at Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, should be the ideal candidate to take charge at Manchester United. Alonso's impressive stint as Bayer Leverkusen's coach, where he guided them to the top of the Bundesliga with an exhilarating brand of football, has caught Keys' attention. He believes that Alonso should be given a five-year contract, similar to the security Sir Alex Ferguson had when he first joined Manchester United, and given time to turn things around.
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In discussing his theory, Keys emphasized the need for Manchester United to make a bold move in order to attract top players and regain its former glory. He suggests that the club should approach Leverkusen and offer Alonso a lucrative deal, promising him substantial financial backing and stability for five years. Keys sees Alonso as the coach who can bring about positive change and restore Manchester United's status as a top destination for elite players.
"What is the answer to what has happened at Manchester United?" Keys asked on beIN SPORTS. “I thought about that a lot and here is my theory. I would thank the current coach for his time. If I couldn’t go out and get my top target immediately I would then be treading water until I can.
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"In my view, Manchester United should go now to Leverkusen and they should say to Xabi Alonso: ‘We want you to come to Old Trafford. We will give you Saudi League money and we will guarantee you five years’. United are no longer in a position where if top players become available, they are going to sign for United. They are just not going to sign for Manchester United anymore. They can’t go out and do what they once did and sign everybody else’s best player."
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has recently denied the existence of any release clause in Alonso's contract, dismissing speculation linking him with moves to Liverpool and Real Madrid. If Alonso does become available, United would face stiff competition for his services, as he is highly regarded in the coaching market.
Liverpool.com says: Even if Manchester United did look to Alonso, it seems highly unlikely that he would want to go there. He has Liverpool links, of course, for one thing, but he has also chosen his coaching jobs really carefully so far and has been in no rush to make moves that would not be sensible. Moving to Old Trafford would be a massive risk for any manager right now, with a huge job to be undertaken and a complete lack of direction at the club. Alonso won't be Ten Hag's replacement but whoever is at the helm will need to completely change how things are currently run.
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