Manchester United contact shock manager candidate amid Ruben Amorim struggles | OneFootball

The Portuguese has won just nine times in the Premier League since his appointment last November

Manchester United have reportedly held talks with new managerial candidates as Ruben Amorim struggles to find form.

United fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Brentford on Saturday, leaving them 14th in the Premier League with just seven points from six matches.

The pressure is mounting on Amorim to find solutions. The Portuguese has won just 18 of his 49 matches since taking the helm at Old Trafford, with his stubborn refusal to adjust his formation drawing considerable criticism.

As Amorim struggles, United’s hierarchy are thought to be lining up potential replacements.

According to reports from TalkSport, Gareth Southgate has spoken with Sir Jim Ratcliffe in recent weeks and is considered an option to replace Amorim.

United remain reluctant to sack Amorim, but their hand may soon be forced if results do not improve.

Contender: Gareth Southgate

Adam Davy/PA

It is thought that United would have to pay Amorim as much as £12million in compensation should they decide to relieve him of his duties.

Former England boss Southgate was among the contenders to fill the vacant managerial post at United when Amorim was first hired to replace Erik ten Hag, but he was unwilling to return to club management at the time.

United also admire Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, though they may be more difficult to pry away from their current positions.

Speaking after the defeat by Brentford, Amorim said he was frustrated by United’s poor results.

“We can do better with the ball. We can have more control. We can understand that sometimes, when the decisions are not in your favour, the momentum is not in your favour. We can control the ball. We can settle down the game. And that is something that I know this team can do.

“But when everything, the moments, the penalty, the foul before the first goal, all these things are against us, we need to have more personality to control the games, calm down the games, and then to play better.”