Manchester United have identified two replacements for Ruben Amorim, who is now expected to be sacked as manager.
The club hit yet another nadir on Wednesday night as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of Grimsby Town, going two goals down before forcing a penalty shootout which they lost deep into sudden death.
It marked the first loss to a fourth-tier side in the club's history, and after Amorim appeared to suggest his time could be up.
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"Something has to change," he told reporters. "And you're not going to change 22 players again."
It is not the first or second time Amorim has hinted at leaving. Twice last season he spoke of an early exit, including after the Europa League final loss to Tottenham when he offered to walk away without compensation.
United have stood by the manager this summer and backed him to the tune of £200million-plus on a new forward line, while the likes of the unwanted Marcus Rashford has been shipped out, with Rasmus Hojlund and Antony expected to follow.
Sky Sports report that the United hierarchy will be concerned that a summer of positivity has seemingly evaporated just three games into the new season.
Amorim is now expected to be dismissed, with CaughtOffside reporting on Thursday that it is a matter of when and not if the Portuguese will be sacked.
The report adds that Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola are top of INEOS's wishlist to replace Amorim.
Iraola ignored interest from Spurs in the summer to stay with the Cherries and is believed to be waiting for a bigger offer to come along.
Glasner's future at Selhurst Park is not certain despite winning the FA Cup and following it up with the Community Shield. His current contract with Palace expires at the end of the season and he is in no rush to commit to the club amid frustrations over the club's transfer activity.
