Ranger manager Philippe Clement most likely won’t be leaving as Sheffield United gets ready to choose Paul Heckingbottom’s replacement.
The fact that there hasn’t been a Premier League management change as of December is quite amazing.
The final Premier League manager to quit was Julen Lopetegui, and he did so a few days before the season began.
But the first exit of the season is going to happen, as Sheffield United is set to fire Paul Heckingbottom.
Heckingbottom will now be fired, according to The Athletic, following a 5-0 drubbing against Burnley over the weekend.
Heckingbottom is currently in danger as Sheffield United, who are currently at the bottom of the Premier League standings, have lost 11 of their first 14 games this year.
Rangers don’t need to worry about Philippe Clement being admired by Sheffield United.
Although it may not seem related to Rangers, the Blades have previously expressed interest in Gers boss Philippe Clement.
People at Sheffield United think highly of Clement, according to a 2021 report in The Sheffield Star.
The reason is that Blades owner Abdullah Bin Mosaad Al Saud also owns Beerschot, who played against Clement in Belgium’s top flight.
Clement is a former Beerschot man himself from his playing days and he has been on the radar of Sheffield United’s board of directors for a while.
The same decision-makers are still in power at Bramall Lane, so that admiration is surely still in place too, but we think there is nothing for Rangers to worry about as Heckingbottom heads for the exit.
Firstly, Chris Wilder is the favourite for the job despite being sacked by Sheffield United in 2021, which ultimately sparked the Clement interest
Wilder’s return should go through without a hitch but even if the Blades came calling, Clement surely wouldn’t be interested.
United already seem doomed at the bottom of the Premier League table and don’t exactly have the budget to invest in big January signings.
Key players were sold over the summer even after promotion and the expectation is that Sheffield United will be playing in the Championship next season.
That surely won’t appeal to Clement, especially as he is now looking at title challenges and European football with Rangers.
Clement, most importantly, seems happy at Rangers too.
The Belgian remains unbeaten as Gers boss and has been making steady progress since replacing Michael Beale in October.
Clement will be looking forward to his first transfer window at Rangers rather than thinking about leaving, so Sheffield United’s interest will likely have to stay as admiring from afar.