ERIK IN FERGIE TIME

Ruthless Ratcliffe won't hesitate to seal his fate

- SIMON MULLOCK

IF Erik ten Hag needs an opinion on how ruthless Sir Jim Ratcliffe is he should give Fergie a call.

The Manchester United boss clearly feels that surviving the last international break with his team floundering in 12th place in the Premier League in the aftermath of a lame 3-0 surrender to Tottenham bought him time.

But while United are unbeaten in all four of their games since Ten Hag was given licence to carry on after Ratcliffe summoned the club's leadership team to a seven-hour summit meeting on October 8, there is little evidence to suggest that the Reds are on the march.

More Nations League fixtures are looming in three weeks' time. A day of reckoning might be looming.

United bosses are once again sounding out potential replacements for the Dutchman.

They have already spoken to former Barcelona coach Xavi, the man who once made Pep Guardiola's Nou Camp marvels tick in midfield.

Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim also has his admirers and the fact the manager is being touted as a potential replacement for Pep at Manchester City is a mouthwatering prospect given United have carried out plenty of business over the last decade with one eye on what the neighbours are doing.