Xavi Hernandez in Talks with Manchester United as Pressure Mounts on Erik ten Hag

Manchester United may recruit former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez if the team decides to fire manager Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils have had a dismal start to the 2017 Premier League season; after eight games, Ten Hag’s team is currently in 12th place.

Only three of those eight games have been won by Manchester United, which has increased pressure on the Dutchman to improve their record.

Manchester United’s agents have reportedly contacted the former Barcelona player twice in recent months, according to Mail Sport.

Although United sources claim that several high-level meetings have recently taken place in the Catalan capital due to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s presence to support the Ineos Britannia sailing team in their competition with New Zealand for the America’s Cup, a four-person delegation headed by chief executive Omar Berrada flew out to Barcelona last Thursday.

However, it has also stoked rumours that Xavi might be a candidate in the event that Ten Hag is fired after two and a half years in leadership.

As he gets ready to play Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday, United sources insist that Ten Hag is still their manager and that the team has no plans to replace him.

Mick Brown, a former Manchester United topscout who still has a lot of connections at Old Trafford, reportedly stated that Ten Hag is “always one defeat away” from losing his job.

“He’ll know that winning a few games won’t be enough,” Brown told Football Insider. “Even if you win three straight games, the pressure will return after a shocking loss.

“At Manchester United, you’re under fire every time you lose a game. That has consistently been the case. 

You’re only ever one loss away.“So it’s good to win games, and he needs to win games, that’s the only way he’ll be able to keep his job, but even that might not be enough.

“They’ve got a good run of games coming up, but that only increases the pressure.

“We’ve been in this position before where they get all three points from a game and look like they can push on, but then they lose again.

“All it takes is one loss for the crowd to turn and all of a sudden a decision has to be made.”