Erik ten Hag receives perfect gift from Gareth Southgate amid Man Utd manager circus

has been relentlessly linked with the job amid mounting pressure on current manager . He fuelled speculation further by resigning as boss following this summer's final defeat to Spain, ending his eight-year tenure.

However, by walking away from the England job, Southgate may have actually done Ten Hag a considerable favour based on the direction of the FA's search for his successor.

Reports earlier this month claimed United Thomas Tuchel to replace Ten Hag ahead of an executive meeting involving all the club's powerbrokers last Tuesday.

Tuchel was said to be Sir Jim Ratcliffe's preferred candidate should INEOS decide to sack the Dutchman in the coming weeks.

However, he is reportedly with the FA after showing an interest in becoming England's next permanent manager.

The former Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich head coach is now the hot favourite to guide the nation into the 2026 World Cup.

He would be only the third foreign manager in England's history after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

Accepting the job would automatically take him out of the running to replace Ten Hag, which could prove to be the United boss' saving grace.

Tuchel's availability reportedly made him an attractive option, with many of United's alternative targets in active positions that would require compensation payments.

Southgate may have inadvertently taken Ten Hag's biggest threat out of the picture while also ruling himself out of the frame.

"I am enjoying my life so there is no rush. For 11 years I committed fully to the national federation," Southgate last week.

"I won't coach in the next year for sure. I am certain of that. When you come out of a big role you need to give your body time, your mind time."

Ruud van Nistelrooy is now the favourite to succeed Ten Hag if he fails to overturn United's dismal early-season results in the coming weeks.

Thomas Frank, Graham Potter, Ruben Amorim, and Edin Terzic are among those who have also been linked with the Old Trafford dugout.

However, there doesn't appear to be an obvious candidate if Tuchel is no longer in contention, which should play into Ten Hag's favour as he scraps to retain the club's faith.

The development may have slightly eased pressure on the 54-year-old ahead of Brentford's visit in the Premier League on Saturday.