Manchester United Sources have revealed to ESPN that the appointment of Erik ten Hag will be finalized as the club’s next manager.
Ten Hag, 52, who was interviewed by United last month, was on the four-man shortlist along with Paris Saint-Germainby Mauricio Pochettino, Spain Coach Luis Enrique and SevilleJulen Lopetegui. ChelseaThomas Tuchel and Bayern MunichJulian Nagelsmann’s were disqualified as unattainable due to their commitment to their current employer.
Sources in England and the Netherlands have revealed to ESPN that United have reached an agreement with Ten Hag as their new coach and the Ajax boss is ready for the Dutch champions to move to Old Trafford at the end of the season. .
– LIVE gameplay and replay on ESPN+ (US only)
United’s pursuit of a new head coach is led by director of football John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher, who have reported to chief executive Richard Arnold, with chairman Joel Glazer having the final decision on the appointment. .
While some at United consider PSG boss Pochettino, sources told ESPN, Arnold and Glazer both agree that Ten Hag is the best candidate to replace interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who has been in power since December.
1:33
Craig Burley sees a lot of problems at Manchester United and it is unlikely that Erik ten Hag will be able to succeed there.
The choice for a successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ultimately fallen to a head-to-head battle between Ten Hag and Pochettino, but the difficulties Pochettino has endured at PSG this season, combined with the potential cost of his release. With the remaining 12 months of his contract at Parc des Princes, the former Tottenham manager left Ten Hag behind for both football and financial reasons.
Pochettino, 50, was initially United’s preferred candidate to replace Solskjaer, who was sacked by United just a month after celebrating three years as manager last November. The club know that Pochettino will be open to a move to Old Trafford after struggling to impose himself on the job at PSG since taking charge in the middle of last season.
But PSG exited the Champions League in the round of 16 with Real Madridtook a 2-0 lead in the game, which did not help his job with United due to the club’s determination to avoid hiring a manager deemed to have failed in his recent role.
PSG’s willingness to offer a £15m compensation package is another matter for United, who could appoint Ten Hag if they pay the £1.7m compensation figure to Ajax.
The sources added that Rene Meulensteen, first-team coach under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2007 to 2013, is one of the candidates being considered as Ten Hag’s assistant. The club’s recruitment department has also been asked to complete a shortlist of players in each position and present them to the new manager, although he will also be allowed to present targets. own.
