Agent Rio! Ferdinand jokes he discussed Man United job with Thomas Tuchel amid the Bayern manager's links to Old Trafford - and claims the German will have some 'big offers' when he leaves

Rio Ferdinand joked that he discussed the Manchester United job with Thomas Tuchel after a playful catch-up with the Bayern Munich boss. 

Tuchel and Ferdinand got cosy in the build-up to Bayern's Champions League clash at Real Madrid, whispering, sharing laughs, and slapping each other. 

The pally display had Ferdinand's TNT co-stars Laura Woods and Steve McManaman wondering what on earth they had discussed. 

And United legend Ferdinand suggested he had been playing the role of agent for Tuchel, who is set to leave Bayern at the end of the season.

'That was the final part of the talk: "Where are you going?"' he quipped.

'I said good luck to him. He's so relaxed, such a calm character. You'd never know this was a semi-final and his last opportunity to win a trophy [with Bayern].'

He later continued the love-in: 'I think he’s still got enough in the tank. No matter what happens today, he’ll still have some big offers. 

'If he gets to the final and manages to get his hands on the trophy, the world will be his oyster again. He can say what he wants and do what he wants. He will be able to walk away from Bayern Munich with his head held high.’

Tuchel appeared to issue a come-and-get-me plea ahead of the Madrid showdown, saying: 'It is no secret that I loved it at Chelsea, I loved it in England, and I loved it in the Premier League for sure. It was a very, very special time in England, and I remember it very well.'

Erik ten Hag's slippery grip on the United job is losing friction each week and the 4-0 humiliation at Crystal Palace on Monday night was arguably the nadir of his reign. 

Mail Sport understands that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will not sack him before the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 25. 

However, with the club eighth in the Premier League and on course for their worst finish since 1989-90, the Dutchman's position appears increasingly untenable to many. 

Bayern announced that Tuchel would leave at the end of the season back in February, for it has been a deflating season domestically. 

The club have missed out on the Bundesliga title after 11 consecutive triumphs and were dumped out of the DFB-Pokal by third-tier minnows Saarbrucken. 

However, Tuchel's reputation would be fully restored if he can reach the Champions League final and beat rivals Borussia Dortmund. 

He won Europe's top honour with Chelsea in 2021.