According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have reached total agreement with Erik ten Hag to become their next manager, starting from the 2022/23 season. However, the Red Devils are still negotiating with AFC Ajax over the Dutchman’s release.
The 52-year-old is expected to leave the Amsterdam club at the end of the season and join United from the next season, and, as per reports, for the next four years.
Rumours from the previous week claimed negotiations between United and the reigning Eredivisie champions to secure the release of ten Hag were to take place after the Dutch Cup final; the game was played on April 17, in which ten Hag’s side lost 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven. However, the two clubs haven’t prepared an announcement regarding the Dutchman’s future just yet.
As per Romano, United are in talks with Ajax over a 2 million euros compensation to release the tactician from his contract, and that it is only a matter of time before an agreement is reached.
Furthermore, talks are also being held between the two clubs to secure the release of Ten Hag’s assistant, Mitchell van der Gaag. The 50-year-old has deputized for Ten Hag since the start of this season; previously, he managed Ajax’s reserve team, Jong Ajax, from 2019 to 2021.
Earlier this week, Ajax’s technical manager Gerry Hamstra claimed the club is prepared for the possibility of ten Hag leaving, but that attempts are also being made to convince the Dutchman to extend his stay in Amsterdam.
“We hope he stays. We have to stick with the facts, he has not left yet. He still is focusing on Ajax, so do we.
We did everything possible [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that. He reacted that he is focussing on Ajax now. Now we are preparing for two scenarios, Ten Hag might stay or might leave.”
he said.
Should ten Hag leave Ajax at the end of this season, he’d have led them to two league titles – potentially three – and a UEFA Champions League semifinal appearance.
