How ruthless Ratcliffe is reshaping Pad wall...

TEN HAG ON EDGE AS UNITED TALK TO BOSSES & FERGIE CALLOUSLY EXILED

- SIMON MULLOCK

IF Erik ten Hag needs an opinion on how ruthless Sir Jim Ratcliffe can be, he should give Sir Alex Ferguson a call.

The Manchester United boss feels that surviving the last international break with his team floundering in 12th place in the Premier League in the aftermath of a 3-0 surrender to Tottenham bought him time.

Ten Hag was given licence to carry on after Ratcliffe summoned the club's leadership team to a seven-hour meeting in London on October 8.

But while United are unbeaten in all four of their games since, there has been little to suggest the Reds are on the march.

More Nations League fixtures are due in three weeks. A day of reckoning may be looming.

United are once again sounding out potential replacements.

They have already spoken to former Barcelona coach Xavi.

Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim is also highly respected.