Man Utd chiefs plan meeting two days after Aston Villa clash with Erik ten Hag future in doubt amid disappointing performances

According to The Athletic, the club's leadership will gather in London, marking a pivotal moment as pressure mounts following an underwhelming start to the season. The meeting, which has been planned for some time, will feature Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford, both representing INEOS, chief executive Omar Berrada along with sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox. United co-chairman Joel Glazer is also expected to fly in from the United States for the gathering, further emphasising the importance of this summit.

A subsequent meeting in Manchester is also on the cards, though it remains unclear whether the senior management will address the team's current form and Ten Hag's future during these discussions. Currently sitting 12th in the Premier League standings with just five goals scored, United have also failed to win their first two Europa League matches, raising doubts about Ten Hag's tactical approach. The Dutch manager got a lifeline against Porto thanks to Harry Maguire's injury-time goal and now faces the daunting task of locking horns with Aston Villa away from home on Sunday.

The Athletic further reported that Ratcliffe will travel to Birmingham to watch United play. This will be the first time that the INEOS chief will make his way to the stands since their humiliating 3-0 defeat to Liverpool earlier this season. The result of this fixture is expected to play a key role in setting the tone of the upcoming executive meeting if and when Ten Hag's future is discussed.

United have allegedly set up a three-person ownership committee - comprising Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer and INEOS director of sport Brailsford - who will be responsible for any ultimate decision regarding Ten Hag’s tenure. Their evaluation will be based on feedback from those closely involved with the club’s day-to-day operations, including Berrada, Ashworth and Wilcox.

Ten Hag's position remains fragile, as disappointing results continue to pile up. Having won just two of their last seven matches - against Southampton in the Premier League and Barnsley in the FA Cup - United’s recent form has done little to ease concerns. Notably, crushing 3-0 defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Tottenham have exacerbated frustrations within the fanbase and hierarchy alike. The performance against Porto was another disappointment and if things don't improve against Villa, the Dutch manager could be asked to pack his bags from Carrington.