Manchester United, one of the most storied clubs in English football, finds itself at a crossroads as the 2025-26 Premier League season unfolds. With six matches played, the Red Devils sit a disappointing 14th in the table, having secured just two wins and suffering three defeats, including a bruising loss to Brentford that has only intensified scrutiny on manager Ruben Amorim. The mood around Old Trafford is tense, with fans and pundits alike questioning the direction of the club and the leadership at the helm.
The pressure on Amorim has reached fever pitch. His tenure, once filled with promise, is now widely described as a "disaster" following the latest defeat. Reports from September 29, 2025, characterize his sacking as "inevitable," as calls for change grow louder after United’s lackluster start. Questions swirl not just about tactics and results, but also about the club’s future leadership and identity in a league that’s increasingly competitive at every level.
Amid this uncertainty, the rumor mill is in overdrive. The name at the top of many lists is none other than Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona midfielder and manager. According to renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Xavi is "studying the Premier League closely" and would be ready to take over at Manchester United "immediately" should the opportunity arise. Romano emphasized, "Xavi is monitoring the Premier League. And Xavi would go immediately to Man United, even without European football, he would go immediately to the Premier League. So he would love a Premier League opportunity. But at the moment, again, nothing at all."
Xavi’s interest is significant, not least because of his glittering resume. The 45-year-old enjoyed a legendary playing career at Barcelona, collecting four Champions League trophies and eight La Liga titles, while also winning the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain. After hanging up his boots in 2019, he took charge of Qatari side Al-Sadd before returning to Barcelona as manager in November 2021. During his three-year spell in charge, Xavi led the Catalan giants to a La Liga title and a Spanish Super Cup in the 2022-23 season, winning 91 of 143 matches before being replaced by Hansi Flick in May 2024.
Despite his pedigree, Xavi’s managerial journey has not been without drama. His departure from Barcelona came just weeks after club president Joan Laporta had convinced him to stay, only for the relationship to sour and his contract to be terminated a year early. Yet, this setback has only made Xavi more determined to return to top-level management, and the Premier League—long considered the pinnacle of club football—has clearly caught his eye. Romano insists that the Spaniard is prepared to accept a role at Manchester United even if the club fails to qualify for European competition this season, underscoring his eagerness for a new challenge in England.
But Xavi is not the only name being linked to the Old Trafford hot seat. Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner has also found himself at the center of speculation. The Austrian manager has overseen a remarkable transformation at Selhurst Park, guiding Palace to an 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions—a streak that equals the club’s record set back in 1969. Under Glasner, Palace captured their first major trophy in 164 years by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May 2025, followed by a Community Shield triumph against Liverpool just three months later.
Glasner’s approach has been pragmatic and modest. When asked about rumors connecting him to Manchester United, he told kicker, “I’m following all the rumours—and that’s all they are—neutrally and completely relaxed, focusing on the daily work with my players and staff, and trying to enjoy it as much as possible.” Despite the speculation, Glasner remains focused on his current job, emphasizing consistency and the quality of his squad as the keys to Palace’s recent success. “I’m convinced that consistency is a crucial prerequisite for success, but you also need very good players, which we fortunately have,” he explained.
The contrast between Palace and United could hardly be starker. While Palace, with a squad valued at €337 million, sits third in the Premier League, United’s €1.071 billion squad languishes in the bottom half of the table. The numbers tell a sobering story: between February 19, 2024, and September 29, 2025, Palace played 58 Premier League games, winning 23, drawing 21, and losing just 14, while scoring 89 goals and conceding 69 for a total of 90 points. United, over 57 games in the same period, managed only 17 wins, 14 draws, and a staggering 26 losses, with 73 goals scored and 89 conceded, earning just 65 points.
While Glasner downplays any immediate move to Manchester, his name remains in the conversation alongside Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, another manager reportedly on United’s radar. For now, though, the club’s hierarchy appears to be standing by Amorim, at least publicly, despite mounting evidence that a change may be necessary to arrest the team’s slide and restore belief among supporters.
This uncertainty has left United fans in limbo. The club’s storied history and massive financial investment demand results, yet the current campaign has offered little cause for optimism. The squad’s underperformance, despite its enormous value, has only fueled the argument that a new managerial direction is urgently needed. Whether that comes in the form of Xavi’s continental pedigree, Glasner’s pragmatic consistency, or another surprise candidate remains to be seen.
For now, the action continues, and the drama at Old Trafford shows no sign of abating. The next few weeks could prove pivotal—not just for Amorim’s future, but for the club’s entire trajectory. With Xavi waiting in the wings and other ambitious managers keeping a watchful eye, Manchester United’s next move could define their fortunes for years to come.
