Gareth Southgate to Man Utd given green light for two reasons after damning Ruben Amorim claim

Gareth Southgate has been backed to replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United because he'd be cheaper than other candidates and break the status quo. Amorim is currently under significant pressure following United's 3-1 defeat away to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, marking his 17th league loss in just 33 games in charge.

Southgate has emerged as a potential successor following claims by talkSPORT that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already made direct contact with the former England boss. However, the BBC reports that the Red Devils' hierarchy remain in full support of Amorim.

Nevertheless, ex-United goalkeeper Ben Foster reckons Southgate would be the ideal choice if the club does choose to remove the Portuguese head coach from his post. The former Wrexham stopper, speaking on his Fozcast podcast, pointed to the fact that the 55-year-old would be a cheaper alternative to the likes of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

Foster made his comments after suggesting Amorim's players have lost faith in his rigid style of play and that his days in the United hot seat are numbered.

"Amorim is right on the brink now," he said. "If they lose another one or two in the next couple of weeks then he's gone. Honestly, if he makes it through the international break, it's 50/50.

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"The predictable nature of it is just that's what's killing Man United, because everybody knows what to expect. Everybody knows what's coming, so this is how we're going to counteract it.

"Man United’s history is built on having wingers getting wide, taking players on and getting balls into the box. When they've got a system now that isn't that way, and it's not working, I can't blame Man United fans for not being happy."

Foster added: "If you watch the game, it's like they're good players, but there's no real system. There's no real flair, there's no real attacking intent. I just think the belief is completely gone from Manchester United. The manager could really be under pressure come the next international break."

Although United defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Old Trafford just 11 days ago, they failed to carry that form forward to Brentford at the weekend. The match saw Benjamin Sesko net his debut goal for the away team, while Bruno Fernandes squandered a penalty after a controversial call that allowed Brentford’s Nathan Collins to stay on the pitch.

Outlining his reasons for preferring Southgate to other potential managerial candidates, Foster said: "If they're trying to get Iraola or Glasner, it's going to cost an awful lot of money. I know Glasner's contract is up in the summer, but he's going to want £250,000 a week for himself as a wage. They're going to want compensation to some point.

"I just think with Gareth Southgate, it's so different to what they've ever done, and what they're doing isn't working. 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."

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