Erik ten Hag has reportedly become the favourite to take over as Manchester United’s manager in the summer.
According to Calciomercato, Erik ten Hag is in pole position to take over as Manchester United’s next permanent manager. Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel are the other potential candidates, although the Ajax boss has now emerged as the frontunner to take over the reins at Old Trafford in the summer.
The summer window will be a crucial one for Manchester United, who remain focused on the next managerial appointment. Player recruitment has taken a backseat in that aspect, with the club’s board looking to finalise the next man at the helm.
The club decided against appointing a permanent man in charge after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last year. Instead, they brought in Ralf Rangnick in an interim role to hold the fort until the end of the season.
Rangnick will take up a consulting role with the club for the next two years and will assist in appointing the new manager. A few names have been mentioned for the position, including former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino. At the same time, some media outlets also suggested that Manchester United could poach Thomas Tuchel from Chelsea.
While they remain firm contenders, the man that has supposedly taken pole position for the job is Erik ten Hag. The Ajax boss is revered around the world for his sensational style of football, which has taken Ajax to great heights. While the Dutch side did get eliminated from the Champions League earlier this week, their manager remains a man in demand.
The 52-year-old Dutchman has earned the reputation of being an all-round coach, with his Ajax side one of the highest goalscorers in European leagues, while conceding very few goals. In 26 Eredivisie games this term, the club have allowed just 11 goals as they narrowly lead the table.
Pundits have tipped ten Hag to join Manchester United in the summer and build a team to his liking. On paper, the Dutchman looks like the man the Old Trafford outfit desperately need to bring an upturn in fortunes, although some may point towards his Champions League record in recent seasons as a reason not to appoint him.
Other options such as Pochettino and Tuchel have proven themselves on the bigger stage, such as the Premier League and Champions League, over the years. The Dutchman may not have this kind of reputation as of yet. Still, he remains one the most exciting coaches in European football, which may be enough for Manchester United to take a punt on him.
