Ajax Director Gerry Hamstra insists the club are doing all they can to keep Erik ten Hag in Amsterdam as links with Manchester United continues to rumble.
Manchester United’s search for a new manager continues to grab headlines, as Erik ten Hag remains the favourite to take the job. The Ajax manager was interviewed last month and was expected to be announced imminently. However, the Red Devils have taken their time as they continue to hold back on the announcement.
The club considered other candidates, such as Mauricio Pochettino and Julen Lopetegui earlier, although the speculation around those names have evaporated since ten Hag was interviewed. Manchester United are set to finalise his appointment after they finish a few more formalities.
One of those would be meeting Ajax’s release clause for ten Hag. However, Manchester United might hold the announcement in order to avoid interrupting the Dutch side’s plans for the remainder of the season.
There were also reports of RB Leipzig attempting to hijack ten Hag from under Manchester United’s noses. That aside, it does seem like the Old Trafford side might have their man already, and the Dutchman remains the firm favourite to become their new manager.
Ajax’s football Director Gerry Hamstra insists that the Dutch giants are trying everything to keep ten Hag at the club. His comments appeared on ESPN, where Hamstra suggested that despite the club’s best effort the manager might eventually leave.
Hamstra said, “There is interest for Erik ten Hag, that is normal. He has done fantastic. We hope he stays. We have to stick with the facts, he has not left yet. He still is focusing on Ajax, and so do we.”
“We did everything possible [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that. He reacted that he is focusing on Ajax now. Now we are preparing for two scenarios, Ten Hag might stay or might leave.”
Ten Hag’s imminent appointment at Old Trafford has prompted the media to speculate on future plans the Dutchman might already have drawn out. It includes a series of players the manager reportedly wants Manchester United to sign and stories speculating on several players he does not want any more at the club.
None of those stories might be accurate, as ten Hag remains focused on helping Ajax win the Eredivisie this season as they continue to battle PSV Eindhoven.
