Thiago Motta has been linked with Man UtdCredit: Reuters

Erik ten Hag could be replaced by the Italian in the summerCredit: Alamy

Motta’s football philosophy is underlined by a stunning ‘2-7-2’ formationCredit: Rex

After taking charge in September 2022, the 41-year-old led Bologna to ninth in his first season and now has them fourth with a five-point cushion ahead of the run in.

Despite his remarkable achievements in northern Italy, founded by an unorthodox “2-7-2” formation, Motta’s contract expires in the summer.

According to Gazzetta, Man Utd chiefs are among the biggest admirers of the former Barcelona and Inter Milan midfielder.

Further reports have also seen Bologna ace Joshua Zirkzee, 22, linked to boost the firepower in the team’s ranks.

However, the Red Devils will face competition from Juventus for his signature.

Motta’s agent, Dario Canovi, recently declared he will coach in the Champions League one day.

Therefore, Man Utd’s struggles in the Premier League – which has left them nine points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham who look set to claim the last Champions League spot – could be decisive.

Regardless, Motta has not decided on his future at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

Old Trafford head coach Ten Hag remarkably received a boost to his prospects of keeping his job after reports emerged suggesting there were “a lack of viable interested alternatives”.

Names touted for the Man Utd hotseat include the likes of former Chelsea coach Graham Potter and England boss Gareth Southgate.

Late collapses against Brentford and Chelsea this week have seen Man Utd’s hopes of earning a spot in the UCL next season all but mathematically end.

They face Liverpool next in a rematch of their thrilling FA Cup quarter-final before the international break.

What is Motta’s football philosophy?

After hanging up his boots and stepping into coaching with PSG’s Under-18s in 2018, Motta shocked the world when he announced a brand new formation – the 2-7-2.

The formation sounds extreme on paper, especially considering Motta treats his goalkeeper as a “midfielder”.

But Motta reads his team from left to right rather than bottom up – so it is actually similar to a traditional 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.

Speaking on his ideas in 2018, Motta said: “My idea it to play offensively. A short team that controls the game, high pressure and a lot of movement with and without the ball.

Motta’s 2-7-2 reads from left to right with two left-sided players, seven midfielders including the goalkeeper and two right-sided players

“I want the player that has the ball to always have three or four solutions and two team-mates close by to help.

“The difficulty in football is, often to do things simply but to control the base, pass and get free.

“I don’t like the numbers of the field because they trick you. You can be super offensive with a 5-3-2 and defensive in a 4-3-3.

“Depending on the quality of the guys. I had a game a while ago where the two full-backs ended up playing as the 9 and 10.

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t like people like Samuel and Chiellini, born defenders…

“The goalkeeper counts as one of the midfield seven. For me, the attacker is the first defender and the goalkeeper is the first attacker.

“The goalkeeper starts the play, with his feet and the attackers are the first to put pressure to recover the ball.”

While opting for a more pragmatic approach at Spezia, Motta’s Bologna team have favoured a possession-dominant system this year.

They are second in the division for most passes completed at an accuracy of 85.2 per cent.

In build up they opt for a 1-3-2-5 formation but are proficient in rotating their options with 2-3-5 a common switch to help play through the lines.

The 4-3-3-esque shape then sees the two No8s move wide to support the wingers and full-backs.

But Bologna are far from direct and rank among the lowest in the division for crosses into the box, with Motta preferring his players to work the space and create from narrower positions where superior numbers can make their mark.

The formation is supplemented by players such as Zirkzee dropping into space to help progress the ball with Bologna’s box midfield.

Defensively, Bologna press high but drop into a 4-1-4-1 mid-block.