Manchester United are apparently set to concede defeat in their efforts to hire Bologna boss Thiago Motta, who has reached an agreement in principle to take charge of Juventus.
The 41-year-old's Rossoblu side are on course for Champions League qualification owing to a stellar 2023-24 Serie A season, amassing 58 points from 31 matches to sit fourth in the standings.
Motta was previously in charge of Genoa and Spezia before taking the Bologna reins in September 2022, and he has won 33 of his 69 games at the helm across all competitions.
However, Bologna are at a serious risk of losing the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, and top European clubs are circling.
Barcelona - who will lose Xavi when the campaign ends - have long been linked with an approach, while a recent report claimed that Man United had also added him to their managerial shortlist.
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Motta to remain in Italy with Juventus?
The Red Devils will seemingly have to focus their search elsewhere, though, as according to Calciomercato, Motta has agreed a deal in principle to become Juventus' new head coach.
The Bianconeri - who sit just one place and four points better off than Bologna in the standings - are expected to sever ties with Massimiliano Allegri at the end of the season, even though his deal runs until 2025.
Ahead of Allegri's anticipated departure, Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has allegedly been in contact with Motta's entourage for several weeks, and an accord has now been struck.
Nothing is signed between the two parties yet, but the Bologna manager is now in line to take the reins at the Allianz Stadium from next season, despite interest from AC Milan as well.
With Motta arriving in Turin, Juventus could supposedly also poach defender Riccardo Calafiori and midfielder Lewis Ferguson from Bologna, while forcing Man United to scope out alternative managerial targets.
Which other head coaches could the Red Devils pursue?
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Despite a lack of public backing from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, current Man United boss Erik ten Hag is believed to be safe for the rest of the season and has also claimed that he has no "doubts" about his future at Old Trafford.
The former Ajax boss is still under contract in Manchester for one more season, but a host of managers have been tipped to take over in the summer, most notably England head coach Gareth Southgate.
The 53-year-old is only under contract with the FA until the end of the calendar year, but he has ruled out the possibility of holding talks with the Man United hierarchy before Euro 2024.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Gary O'Neil is another prime candidate, as is the unattached Zinedine Zidane, but the ex-Real Madrid boss supposedly has no interest in taking charge of the Red Devils.
Ben Knapton
