Manchester United have reportedly agreed a deal in principle with AFC Ajax manager Erik ten Hag. The two clubs will negotiate a release next, allowing the Dutchman to take over at Old Trafford.
The 52-year-old was linked closely with the Red Devils ever since the club began its search to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the managerial hot-seat, links which grew louder in recent weeks. Ten Hag is the frontrunner for the job, as it stands, beating out the competition from PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino, Sevilla’s Julen Lopetegui and Spain national team head coach Luis Enrique.
While United and ten Hag are in agreement over what sort of role the Dutchman would take on once he joins, they are yet to negotiate his release from Ajax. As per the report, negotiations will only take place after the KVNB Cup final on April 17, in which title-holders Ajax are facing arch-rivals PSV Eindhoven.
Should the next part of the process go smoothly, the 52-year-old will sign a contract with the Premier League side running up to four years. Ten Hag’s backroom staff will be decided in due course, but, The Athletic states he is keen to bring his trusty assistant Mitchell van der Gaag with him to Manchester.
Former England, Derby County and Newcastle United manager, Steve McClaren, has also been linked with the assistant managerial role; McClaren served as the second-in-command to former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for a short period and worked with Ten Hag previously at FC Twente.
Some reports have also linked another ex-United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen with a return to the club.
Under the mentorship of ten Hag since 2017, Ajax have been a side transformed. In addition to impressive performances in Europe, the Dutch giants won the Eredivisie in 2018/19, led the league when it was curtailed due to the pandemic in 2019/20, and retained the title in 2020/21; they are on track to make it three wins in four years this season.
