United Reach out to Erik Ten Hag | Is he the Next Permanent Manager?

Manchester United have prepared a shortlist to find their next permanent manager and Ajax manager Erik ten Hag was reportedly considered to be standing very high on that list. The club wants to finalise on their manager for the next season before they bring in new signings for their squad overhaul.

Early reports mentioned that United narrowed down the list to current Paris-Saint Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax’s Erik ten Hag. And according to fresh reports, the Red Devils have ‘sounded out’ the Dutchman through intermediaries for the Old Trafford job.

Manchester United started the season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, after a series of poor results which saw the club lose 0-5 to Liverpool, 0-2 to Manchester City and 1-4 to Watford, the Norwegian was sacked in November.

Former player and assistant to Ole, Michael Carrick, was appointed as the caretaker manager to oversee three matches before the club appointed Ralf Rangnick as the interim manager till the end of the season. The Red Devils are now searching for a new manager for the next season.

Ralf Rangnick — Image Obtained via Goal.com

The German has won eight and lost three games in 18 matches across all competitions. However, the last game-week, United were thrashed 4-1 by neighbours City in the Manchester derby. Rangnick came under heavy scrutiny from United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane. The former RB Leipzig manager will continue in a consultancy role with the Red Devils for a further two years.

Is Ten Hag Available?

Early reports in November stated that Pochettino was the first choice to take over at United, ahead of the Dutchman. However, according to fresh reports from Sky Sports, the Mancunian club, through intermediaries, have followed up on the Ajax manager regarding the Old Trafford job.

Currently, Ten Hag is fully concentrated on the Eredivisie club, which currently sit at the top of the league table. Ajax will face Benfica tonight in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League. But the Dutchman would not shy away from a chat if there is any official approach from the Red Devils.

Ten Hag has been at the helm of Ajax since December 2017, when he arrived from Utrecht. The 52-year-old has managed the Dutch club in over 200 games. He has helped them secure the domestic double twice, in 2019 and 2021. He came into the limelight when he took Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur. Other clubs on his CV include Go Ahead Eagles and Bayern Munich’s reserve side.

Moreover, according to reputable Dutch journalist Mike Verweij, Erik ten Hag is now being deemed as the prime candidate to take over as Manchester United manager. The Ajax hierarchy also expects the Dutchman to leave Amsterdam in the summer.

Mike Verweij: "The chances of Erik ten Hag to Manchester United are rising."

Mike Verweij is a TIER ONE journalist very close to Ajax and Dutch footballers.

He is VERY reliable so maybe IT'S HAPPENING!!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/D855g4iAsP

— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) March 4, 2022

Mauricio Pochettino has been with Paris Saint-Germain since January 2021. The former Tottenham manager went on to win the French Cup and Super Cup in his first season but came second to Lille in the Ligue 1 title race. This season, though, PSG look comfortable at the top of the league table with a 15-point advantage to the second-place Marseille.

However, the Argentine manager failed to replicate this success in the Champions League. Last season, they were ousted by Manchester City in the semis. This time around, his team blew away a 1-0 first-leg lead against Real Madrid to lose 3-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16.

Manchester United have done many deals with Ajax over the years and have a good relationship with them. Former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is the current chief executive at the Dutch club. The English giants seem very keen on bringing in Ten Hag in their dugout for next season and these connections could help them in their pursuit.

Stay tuned for more updates on Manchester United.