Former PL manager hailed by Pep Guardiola ready to quit current side to take over at United – report

Manchester United are searching for their next manager after removing Ruben Amorim from the hot seat at Old Trafford this week. The Portuguese head coach departed with a win ratio of just 38.10% over a 14-month stay. Darren Fletcher is set to be in the dugout for Wednesday’s Premier League game against Burnley. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the front-runner for the caretaker role until the end of the season. The Red Devils are keen to end the season in the best possible way, with the club currently sixth in the league table, just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. A permanent appointment is expected to take place this summer, and several candidates have been touted as options. United legend Rio Ferdinand recently named former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi among his choices for the full-time job. De Zerbi’s record in England De Zerbi took charge at the Amex Stadium in September 2022 and proceeded to guide the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League. In the process, Brighton secured European football for the first time in their history. The Italian spent nearly two seasons with the East Sussex club, registering 38 wins from 89 games. He took charge of Marseille in July 2024 and is currently managing the Ligue 1 club, where he has already achieved a 58.33% win ratio so far. Roberto De Zerbi managerial stats TeamNat.FromToGames PlayedGames WonGames DrawnGames LostWin % Darfo BoarioItaly19 November 201330 June 201422551222.73 FoggiaItaly1 July 201414 August 20169147251951.65 PalermoItaly6 September 201630 November 2016131397.69 BeneventoItaly23 October 201730 June 201829632020.69 SassuoloItaly1 July 201824 May 202112043364135.83 Shakhtar DonetskUkraine25 May 202111 July 202230205566.67 Brighton & Hove AlbionEngland18 September 202230 June 20248938222942.70 MarseilleFrance1 July 2024Present603581758.33 Total———45419510715242.95 Source: Wikipedia.De Zerbi’s tactical approach and his attacking brand of football makes him a suitable fit for United. It is no wonder, then, that he was mentioned as a possible replacement for Amorim at Old Trafford a few months ago. The Italian was once hailed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as “one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years”. The Red Devils could consider him among the options for the permanent job and a report has outlined the Italian’s stance on the matter. De Zerbi ready for Old Trafford job According to TEAMtalk, De Zerbi is ready to leave Marseille this summer to take over at United. “Roberto De Zerbi is very interested in becoming the next permanent manager of Manchester United, with sources indicating the Marseille boss sees the Old Trafford role as an ideal next step in his career – and we can reveal the Italian is ready to leave France at the end of the season if offered the job.” “Insiders claim De Zerbi feels ready for a major challenge and is particularly drawn to the prospect of another stint in English football, where his attacking philosophy earned widespread acclaim.” The report adds that Tottenham Hotspur have the Italian on their radar, while another update from the same publication says that he will be their preferred option if they wish to replace Thomas Frank at the end of the season. De Zerbi was previously considered as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag in the summer of 2024, before INEOS decided to stick with the Dutchman. They could have the chance to rectify that decision this summer. Final Thoughts INEOS are unlikely to rush the selection process for the next United manager after drawing a blank in their last appointment. Their next decision could have a tremendous impact on their legacy at the club, so the minority owners will be desperate to get this right. De Zerbi certainly has the credentials to be a success at the Theatre of Dreams, and his Premier League experience also makes him an enticing option for the job. 🚨 Exclusive Sources can reveal Spurs have put Roberto De Zerbi at the top of their summer list of targets should they decide to part ways with Thomas Frank. The Dane’s position will come under review at the season’s end.@FrazFletcher | #THFC https://t.co/BcmfWmLFKD — TEAMtalk (@TEAMtalk) January 7, 2026 The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.