Sir Jim Ratcliffe faces problem if he makes Man Utd job offer to Thomas Tuchel

Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be served up a major problem if the INEOS chief looks to appoint Thomas Tuchel as Erik ten Hag’s replacement. Tuchel is set to leave his post as Bayern Munich manager, despite guiding the Bundesliga side to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2020.

While they might have missed out on both the DFB Pokal and Bundesliga title, Bayern could still finish the season as European champions. They’ll have to overcome Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final first, before taking on one of Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

But, regardless of how their campaign ends, it’s expected Tuchel will walk away from the Bavarian giants when the season concludes. As a result, interest from clubs across the continent has been piqued, with United one of the sides said to be monitoring his situation.

It was reported last month that Ratcliffe is a fan of Tuchel, with initial discussions having taken place. However, should the British businessman push forward with plans to hire Tuchel as Ten Hag’s replacement, the United hierarchy could face a big problem in getting the appointment over the line.

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That’s because The Times are reporting that whoever is in charge of United this summer, Ten Hag, Tuchel or otherwise, there will be a reduced transfer kitty to operate with. Given United look set to miss out on Champions League football, coupled with INEOS’ new-look transfer policy at Old Trafford, it’s mooted that ‘limited resources’ will be available to the United manager this summer.

It could prove problematic because Tuchel – who boasts a proven track record of winning trophies – may be tempted by an offer from elsewhere. While unlikely, a return to Chelsea could prove more appealing to Tuchel, with rumours circulating that the current Bayern chief would be open to a Stamford Bridge remontada one day.

Tuchel left the west London outfit in September 2022, having come to blows with the then-new co-owner Todd Boehly. But during his heartfelt goodbye message to the Chelsea fans, Tuchel expressed his love for Chelsea and, crucially, the supporters.

He said: “This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally. Thank you so much to all the staff, the players and the supporters for making me feel very welcome from the start.

“The pride and joy I felt at helping the team to win the Champions League and the Club World Cup will stay with me forever. I am honoured to have been a part of this club’s history and whatever the future holds for me, the memories of the last 18 months will always have a special place in my heart.”