Tuchel is the outstanding candidate for Man Utd job – but they must act now

The England manager will be available after the World Cup but do not be surprised if the Football Association approach him to sign a contract extension before this summer’s finals

Without giving away trade secrets, there is a strong possibility the next question a member of the media puts to Thomas Tuchel will not be exclusively about England. It will also be about Manchester United.

At the moment, Tuchel is the fourth favourite to be the manager of United for the first game of the 2026/27 season, behind Michael Carrick, Oliver Glasner and Sir Gareth Southgate. Odds of 10-1 against Tuchel being at Old Trafford next season seem quite tempting.

Because in the cold light of day, he is the outstanding candidate. For what it is worth, I am not alone in believing Carrick will get a long-term crack at it if he inspires an upsurge in form and secures a place in next season’s Champions League.

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And I am not alone in believing Carrick could make a very decent long-term fist of things. He is a well-respected character and could prove to be a good coach of elite players.

But Tuchel’s credentials at the highest level of club football are first-class. He has won three domestic league titles, a Champions League, two domestic cups and a Club World Cup, amongst other things.

He has been voted UEFA Coach of the Year and The Best FIFA Football Coach. Carrick failed to get Middlesbrough promoted from the Championship.

And, as it stands right now, Tuchel is available towards the end of July – no compensation payment required. But Ruben Amorim’s departure and United’s current situation will be the subject of a lot of discussion in the corridors of Football Association power.

They really should not do it – remember Fabio Capello and his contract improvement ahead of a disastrous World Cup 2010 – but do not be at all surprised if the FA, privately at least, make it clear to Tuchel that they want him to stay on for the home Euros in 2028.

Qualifying was always going to be routine but Tuchel has been a big hit with the FA and it is certain they would like him to lead England into the Euros. At the last international gathering, Tuchel said he was happy with the short-term arrangement that has the World Cup as his one, only and final target, and that the arrangement was at his insistence.

It helps when you win games without conceding goals but Tuchel has looked increasingly enamoured with life as England boss. There is a twinkle in his eye.

Would he fancy two more years? There has to be a chance of that. Which should be on the agenda when Manchester United’s executive committee meeting takes place.

If they do want Tuchel as their next manager, they should act now. It would show the German they mean business, it would show him they really want him, rather than having a plan that consists mainly of seeing how the land lies in mid-summer.

A national coach agreeing a club deal prior to a major tournament is certainly not without precedent. In fact, it is not without precedent in United’s recent history.

In May, 2014, Louis van Gaal was confirmed as the club’s next manager ahead of the Dutchman taking his country to the World Cup in Brazil. Van Gaal then took the Netherlands to a semi-final penalty shootout defeat to Argentina and a third-place playoff win over Brazil.

But you can rest assured the FA would not be happy if United approached Tuchel in the build-up to the finals. That, though, should not be United’s concern.

They might not fancy a manager who has never really hung around too long in a particular job, they might be more than happy to hope Carrick makes a good case for himself. But if they do want Tuchel and if they are a serious operation, they need to act sooner rather than later.

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