Thiago Motta 'emerges as potential Erik ten Hag replacement at Man United' after his brilliant work with Bologna... but Reds would face stiff competition from Juventus

Thiago Motta has reportedly emerged as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United after his excellent work with Bologna.

The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, 41, has unfancied Bologna on course for Champions League football with the team currently fourth in Serie A.

Motta's contract expires in the summer and while Bologna hope he will renew, Gazzetta dello Sport are linking the Brazil-born former Italy International with United and Juventus.

Ten Hag's future at Old Trafford is in jeopardy as they struggle to make next season's Champions League by making the top five in the Premier League.

New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos will assess the Dutchman's performance in the summer with Ten Hag also hoping to deliver the FA Cup to Old Trafford to save his job.

Motta quickly moved into coaching after retiring from playing in 2018, taking charge of PSG's under-19 side before returning to Italy for stints with Genoa and Spezia.

After keeping Spezia in Serie A against all odds in 2022, he replaced Sinisa Mihajlovic at Bologna in September 2022 and guided them to a ninth-place finish last season.

But this season, Motta has lifted Bologna to a whole new level using his unorthodox formation that is a 4-3-3 which could be interpreted as a 2-7-2.

Motta has committed himself to playing offensive football, with his players capable of occupying multiple positions and with whoever is on the ball having three or four team-mates available.

These qualities would certainly appeal to United but they would reportedly face stiff competition from Juventus as Massimiliano Allegri struggles to keep hold of his job.

Motta's agent, Dario Canovi, has always maintained his client will coach in the Champions League one day.

That would likely be next season at either Juventus or Bologna but is far from guaranteed at United, who are currently on course for Europa League football.

They dropped five points late on against Brentford and Chelsea in recent days, denting their chances of catching Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur ahead of them.

Having already lost 12 league matches this season, Ten Hag's team are 12 points behind Villa in fourth and nine adrift of Spurs in fifth with eight to play.

United host arch-rivals and title chasers Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.