Manchester United have been given a major boost in their hopes to appoint Erik ten Hag as the head coach next season.
A recent report from the Express has relayed the claims of respected Dutch journalist Mike Verweij, who has recently suggested that the recent departure of Marc Overmars could eventually lead to the exit of Erik ten Hag at the end of the season. It could serve as a massive boost for Manchester United, who have the Ajax manager firmly in their sights for next season.
Overmars was the director of football at Ajax since 2012. He had played a key role in helping the club from Amsterdam impose their dominance in Dutch football, working alongside some of the most gifted managers in Europe, including ten Hag. However, the former Arsenal winger’s role at Ajax came to an abrupt end this month, as he pleaded guilty to sending inappropriate texts to female colleagues.
It has led to the resignation of Overmars, which could have serious long-term consequences as far as the Ajax hierarchy is concerned. Mike Verweij claims Overmars and ten Hag were a single unit, and it would not be surprising to see the latter leave the club at the end of the season, regardless of who is brought in as Overmars’ replacement.
The Dutchman is widely regarded as one of the most talented coaches in Europe, having enjoyed immense success at Ajax since replacing Peter Bosz in late 2017. During his time at Ajax, ten Hag has helped the club reach the semifinal of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League as well as leading them to two Eredivisie titles.
That number may soon turn into three as Ajax are comfortably leading the table this season, with a healthy five-point gap over PSV Eindhoven. Nevertheless, Overmars’ sudden exit means the Dutch giants should brace themselves for life without ten Hag in the summer, with Manchester United among the clubs interested in his services.
The Red Devils are on the lookout for a new manager as Ralf Rangnick is in charge only until the end of the season, before moving into a consultant role. The club have been linked with a move for Mauricio Pochettino, but they are also believed to be in the market for ten Hag, who could arguably offer more identity to the United side that has lacked consistency over the past few years.
However, Manchester United can expect stiff competition for the services of ten Hag, knowing clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and even Borussia Dortmund could be in contention to sign a new manager next season. So it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 52-year-old later this year.
