Manchester United are reportedly set to trigger Ajax boss Erik ten Hag’s release clause and appoint him as their permanent manager.
As per reports in Football Insider, Manchester United have decided to appoint Erik ten Hag as their permanent manager and are set to trigger his release clause. The Red Devils are eager to get the deal over the line in the coming weeks. The Dutch tactician, too, is believed to be interested in moving to Old Trafford.
Manchester United have been on the lookout for a permanent solution to their managerial conundrum since sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November last year. With most top managers around Europe then occupied, the club decided to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season.
Ralf Rangnick was hired to lead Manchester United temporarily, with a deal in place which would see him take up a consultancy role following the end of the ongoing season. Things have not quite gone to plan for the German tactician as the current squad has not been moulded as per Rangnick’s requirements.
Multiple coaches have been linked with the Manchester United job, including the likes of Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde. But the Red Devils had two prime candidates in Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino and Ten Hag. After multiple rounds of talks, they have eventually zeroed in on the Dutch manager.
Erik ten Hag wants to make sure he has enough ‘power’ to decide on the project together with the board, and especially to avoid transfer mistakes. ? #MUFC
That’s why he’s still in discussions with Man Utd before signing.
? His rebuilding plan and more: https://t.co/TdhRyAeUHJ pic.twitter.com/77YmcCSK6a
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 10, 2022
Manchester United want to complete the signing as soon as possible and could make the announcement as early as next week. They are poised to trigger ten Hag’s release clause of £1.7 million, following which they will enter into talks with Ajax to complete the process smoothly and make the announcement during the ongoing season.
Ten Hag, too, is reportedly eager to join the Red Devils, but he will be taking up one of the toughest jobs in the football world. Manchester United are currently seventh in the Premier League and have been knocked out of every cup competition.
Their chances of clinching Champions League qualification for next season look bleak. It can be argued that Manchester United would be better suited to not qualify for any European competition for next season and start afresh, giving ten Hag the chance to build the squad to his liking.
