A poor start to the season saw Manchester United part ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjær in November and replace him with Ralf Rangnick.
The German was appointed as interim manager until the end of the season, after which, he will start a new role as a consultant. He would also be involved in the process of helping the Red Devils appoint a permanent manager.
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag have been pushed forward as the two main contenders for the job at Old Trafford.
For the past few days, various claims from England have reported about the Manchester club approaching the 52-year-old. United’s interest in the Eredivisie boss is now discussed in the Dutch press.
Journalist Mike Verweij states Rangnick admirers the Ajax boss. He made these claims on De Telegraaf’s podcast, Kick-off, and the podcast’s title states; ‘Opportunities for Ten Hag at Manchester United are increasing’.
“Mauricio Pochettino was actually number one, but Paris Saint-Germain have made it clear in the past 24 hours that he absolutely cannot leave,” Verweij said, as quoted by Ajax Showtime.
“Ralf Rangnick is a fan of Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag is also a bit of a German type of trainer. Rangnick is very charmed by his style.”
Verweij also suggests Marc Overmars’ exit from the Amsterdam club may not make it easy for United or anyone else to take Ten Hag away from Ajax.
“He’s set his sights on leaving. Only: the resignation of Overmars does not help,” he said, relayed by another report from Ajax Showtime.
“I think he had more or less agreed with Overmars that he could leave after this season for a good price. But I think the Ajax leadership now says: Overmars has already left, so we want to keep you at all costs.”
Meanwhile, Verweij’s colleague Marcel van der Kraan has shared his thoughts on pros and cons of Ten Hag taking the United job.
“For most managers, it has become a kind of graveyard. However, the challenge is all the greater. If you can help that club, get back into the Champions League or to a title… I think that is the challenge for every trainer and certainly for Ten Hag,” Van der Kraan explained.
Last December, when there were reports linking him to Manchester United and a few other sides, Ten Hag admitted he is open to leaving Ajax after this season.
With recent reports pushing him to Manchester, the Dutchman was quizzed whether he will still be at Ajax next campaign.
“At the moment I am only working with Ajax and have no further thoughts on the future. The focus is on this season. Right now, I shouldn’t be the theme. The theme is: how are we going to win games?” Ten Hag told Trouw earlier this week.
With Ten Hag categorically not denying the possibility to leave Ajax, it should give United and their supporters hope of appointing him as their next permanent manager.
