Thomas Tuchel has laid down the gauntlet to Manchester United amid a flurry of links between the outgoing Bayern Munich head coach and the Premier League side.
Erik ten Hag's role at Old Trafford has looked increasingly under pressure in the wake of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's partial takeover at the Manchester club in February, but the possibility of the Dutchman extending his spell with United took a blow on Monday night.
A 4-0 humbling at Crystal Palace was the latest in the string of calamitous defeats or points dropped amid a turbulent season for Man United, and relations between Ten Hag and his players are thought to be at a low point.