Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been linked with the Manchester United job as Ruben Amorim fights to avoid the sack.

United were expected to improve this season after a productive summer transfer window in which the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko arrived at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils endured a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, finishing 15th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for European football after losing to Tottenham in a drab Europa League final.

United’s squad spoke positively over the summer and were glad to see some of Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ depart, including Antony and Alejandro Garnacho.

But that positive mood has disappeared in the space of just two months, with United winning only two of their first seven games of the season.

Poor Premier League form has left them 14th in the table while Amorim suffered a quite humiliating defeat in the Carabao Cup to League Two opponents Grimsby Town.

The Manchester United hierarchy appear ready to stick with Amorim for the time being but club legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt believe that could change if they fail to beat newly-promoted Sunderland on Saturday.

A number of managers have already begun to be linked with the Old Trafford job, with Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola believed to be admired by the Manchester giants.

Ex-England manager Gareth Southgate has also emerged as a possible candidate to replace Amorim, who won back-to-back league titles at former club Sporting.

Southgate was in charge of England for eight years and led the Three Lions to two major finals in that time, although fans remain disappointed that he was unable to end the nation’s wait for silverware.

While the 55-year-old has been out of football management since resigning in July 2024, Southgate would reject the chance to return to the fold with Manchester United.

The Daily Mirror say Southgate is keeping his options open – both within and outside of the world of football – but is in no rush to return to management.

Since stepping down as England boss, Southgate has taken part in speaking engagements and motivation events. He has also been seen at many football matches.

Southgate was heavily linked with the United job while Erik ten Hag was still in charge but made it clear he wanted to leave England into Euro 2024.

Ben Foster, the former Manchester United goalkeeper, has talked up Southgate’s suitability for the Old Trafford gig.

‘I just think with Gareth Southgate, it’s so different to what they’ve ever done, and what they’re doing isn’t working,’ he said on his YouTube channel.

‘You look at the past four or five managers now since Fergie went and they’re not working. It’s as simple as that.

‘I just think that with how hard it is to play for Man United and the pressure involved in pulling that shirt on, sometimes you might need a bit of a different approach.’

United have denied they have started planning for life after Amorim and are still, publicly at least, backing the 40-year-old Portuguese to turn things around.

But FourFourTwo claim another manager could be on their shortlist to replace Amorim in the form of Premier League legend Fabregas.

Fabregas, who played over 300 games for Arsenal and then won two Premier League titles at Chelsea, has impressed during his spell in charge of Italian side Como.

The ex-Spain and Barcelona star would be a controversial choice given his battles with Manchester United over the years.

Amorim, speaking after United’s latest defeat to Brentford, insisted he was ‘not concerned’ about his job.

‘I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy,’ he said. ‘It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here.’

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