NEWCASTLE United legend Alan Shearer said Erik ten Hag had been a “dead man walking” after it emerged Manchester United sounded out other managers in the summer.

Ten Hag was sacked as United boss on Monday following a disappointing start to the season, with United confirming Ruud van Nistelrooy will take interim charge.

Van Nistelrooy is the current favourite with the bookies to get the job on a permanent basis, ahead of former Barcelona midfielder Xavi.

Ex-Middlesbrough and England boss Gareth Southgate is as short as 5/2 with some bookmakers to take charge at Old Trafford, though only last month he said: "I'm just going to take some time, refresh, recharge and go from there. I think at the moment people know that I need to get my energy back. I am not going to rush into anything I want to make sure I make good decisions."

United slipped to 14th in the Premier League table following their fourth league defeat of the season, by West Ham on Sunday.

Speculation had mounted over the Dutchman’s position in recent weeks and regained intensity after he remained in his position at the end of last season.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, hosted by fellow former England striker Gary Lineker, Shearer believes Ten Hag’s sacking was inevitable in the end.

He said: “We were just waiting for it to happen. Even the way he was talking that ‘we’re all on the same page’.

“Well, they weren’t really on the same page because everyone knew they were talking to managers in the summer.

“If they’re on the same page why on earth are they speaking to managers in the summer? As soon as that came out we all said he was a dead man walking, unfortunately.

“For them then to give him a new contract after that was bizarre really, and to back him with £200million, and in nearly four months they’ve sacked him. Bizarre.”

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United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe kept faith with Ten Hag after United beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup in May, but after only three wins from nine league games the club has taken decisive action.

United indicated it was a unanimous and collective decision, albeit a difficult one to take.

The club had wanted to give Ten Hag the chance to work within a new sporting structure set up over the summer, but results and performances have forced their hand.

It is said the club’s hierarchy had not seen enough progress in Ten Hag’s side to believe they were on the right path to challenge again for the Premier League title.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand likened Ten Hag’s reign to a boxer getting “knocked down and never recovering”.

Speaking live on his YouTube channel while on holiday in the Maldives, Ferdinand said: “Am I surprised? No.

“They kept the man in charge, season kicks in, I actually thought we were starting to see some new signs in the first two or three games, and then we get beat by Liverpool and never recovered.

“It was like a boxer getting hit and knocked down in the third round and never recovering and getting knocked out, knocked down, every single round on the way to the 12th round.

“And finally, we’re here. The fight’s been called off in the last round for the manager, and I think now we’re going to go for a new direction.”

Former United captain Gary Neville believes Ten Hag paid the price for an “unacceptable” Premier League position.

United dropped into the bottom half of the table following the defeat to West Ham, where Jarrod Bowen’s stoppage-time penalty snatched three points for the Hammers.

Neville told Sky Sports: “The big shock for me is how bad they’ve been with the new signings that have come in.

“I felt as though they would have enough to be able to get a decent level of performance together after a smoother transfer window, and that Erik ten Hag would get a level of stability.

“The fact that they are 14th is unacceptable. You can’t be in 14th after nine or 10 games with the level of spend that’s occurred without being under significant pressure – and that’s what’s happened.

“I was hoping it would end differently. I think Manchester United fans were hoping that the manager would continue to keep his job and the faith shown in him in the summer would pay off. But it’s not been the case.”