Man United advisor is in contact with 51-year-old manager, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a big fan

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Manchester United’s Jean-Claude Blanc has kept dialogue open with Zinedine Zidane as Sir Jim Ratcliffe admires the Frenchman.

The Red Devils were hit with a Champions League setback last weekend after losing at home to Fulham.

Defeat at Old Trafford will only raise speculation surrounding the future of Erik ten Hag as United sit eight points adrift of the top four.

Man United interested in Zidane

According to a report by The Independent, a line of dialogue has been kept open between Zinedine Zidane and Jean-Claude Blanc.

It is said both those in the Ineos group and Sir Jim Ratcliffe think highly of the Frenchman and are big admirers of what he’s done.

The former Real Madrid manager has now been out of work as a coach since 2021 after he left the La Liga giants.

This is not to say Zidane is set to be appointed at Old Trafford, but the powers that be are keeping the connection alive.

Erik ten Hag’s future

It has been a rather disappointing campaign for the Red Devils so far under Ten Hag.

Injuries have certainly played their part, but United have fallen well behind what they were doing in the league last season.

They are also out of all European competitions and have a huge FA Cup clash against Liverpool on the horizon.

It does feel like a lot could be resting on these final months of the campaign at United.

Broadcaster Richard Keys has already suggested he feels the Dutch manager’s time as the United boss could be coming to an end.

‘All the leaks coming out of OT tell me the gaffer is Erik ten Toast. Football can be a horrible business. He’s had his time though – wasted a fortune & taken them nowhere. Absolutely nowhere,’ he said.

This summer will present Sir Jim Ratcliffe with his first summer window to put his own stamp on the side.

It could also offer him the perfect opportunity to make some drastic changes.