Manchester United have reportedly cooled their interest in Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager, with Thomas Tuchel and Erik ten Hag also being considered. Pochettino, who was previously on a shortlist to replace ten Hag, may not be returning to the Premier League anytime soon. The club is still in the process of deciding whether to part ways with ten Hag, but it seems unlikely that Pochettino will be the one to take over if a change is made. Pochettino led Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the previous season, just ahead of United.
Arsenal and Manchester United are both keeping an eye on Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee, who currently plays for Bologna after moving from Bayern Munich in 2022. The 23-year-old’s release clause makes him an attractive option for clubs this summer, with a modest £34m release clause in his contract. Zirkzee had a successful season in Serie A, netting 11 goals in 34 league games and providing four assists. AC Milan are also reportedly interested in the talented striker, potentially leading to a bidding war for his services.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to start England’s first match at Euro 2024 against Serbia, playing in a midfield role alongside Declan Rice. Alexander-Arnold was given the No 8 shirt for England for a reason, indicating his importance to Gareth Southgate’s plans for the tournament. The Liverpool player only saw limited action in the Qatar World Cup in 2022 due to injury but has impressed in warm-up matches for the Euros. Competing for the midfield spot are Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo, and Adam Wharton.
Brighton is set to announce Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager this week, with the German agreeing to replace Roberto De Zerbi at the helm. Known for his data-driven approach, Hurzeler has been compared to Julian Nagelsmann and is seen as a promising managerial prospect. Meanwhile, former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter is reported to be Leicester’s top choice after Enzo Maresca’s departure. Potter has held talks with both Brighton and Ajax, with his reputation still high despite his underwhelming stint at Stamford Bridge.
Overall, there is a lot of movement happening in the managerial landscape of English football, with clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Brighton, and Leicester all making significant decisions regarding their leadership. The interest in players like Zirkzee and the expected starting role for Alexander-Arnold at the Euros add to the excitement in the football world. As the summer progresses, more developments are expected as clubs finalize their plans for the upcoming season. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact the teams involved and whether they will lead to success on the pitch in the future.
