Sir Alex Ferguson would reportedly approve of Massimiliano Allegri taking over as Manchester United manager if Erik ten Hag was to be dismissed, according to reports from Italy.

Ten Hag is facing an uncertain period after a disappointing start to the season where United have only won twice in six games and sit 13th in the table. With crucial matches against FC Porto and Aston Villa approaching, positive outcomes are essential for the pressure to be alleviated before the international break.

Allegri meanwhile, is available after leaving Juventus at the end of last season following a three-year period in Turin. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, if a change were to happen, United legend Ferguson would approve Allegri taking over.

It’s also claimed his ‘most fearsome’ competition for the role would come from Thomas Tuchel, who is also out of a job following a brief spell managing Bayern Munich. Elsewhere, Simone Inzaghi is also reportedly being considered as a potential successor if Ten Hag is dismissed.

Former United star Patrice Evra meanwhile, has previously suggested Allegri would be a great fit to take over at Old Trafford. Previously speaking about the Italian, whom he played under at Juventus between 2014 and 2017, Evra said: “He has incredible flair, more than Ferguson.

“Allegri always knows how a game will go before it starts. In the return leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League in 2015 in Dortmund, he predicted everything. Crazy. Before the match, he told us: ‘This is a friendly’.

“Whereas, a few days before against Genoa, he was yelling at us as if it were in a Champions League final. Allegri is like this: he is obsessed with lesser games, he doesn’t care about big matches.”

Allegri, who has been linked with Premier League roles in the past, is yet to coach outside of Italy. At Juve, he won Serie A titles and as many Coppa Italia’s.