Former Netherlands international Rene van der Gijp insists Erik ten Hag should ‘get rid of’ three key Manchester United stars after taking over.
Erik ten Hag remains the favourite to land the Manchester United job in the coming weeks as speculation regarding the Dutchman’s future continues to grow. The Ajax boss is heading the queue to join the Premier League side, ahead of competitors Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui.
Manchester United contacted the Dutchman much earlier than anticipated and have since interviewed the Ajax boss. They could make a decision over his appointment imminently, although the Premier League club are likely to interview more candidates.
As things stand, Erik ten Hag remains in pole position in the race and will take over a troubled Manchester United side whenever his arrival is confirmed. The Red Devils have endured a difficult time this term, and some of their senior stars have come under serious criticism.
The host of Dutch chat show, Vendaag Inside, and former Netherlands international Rene van der Gijp has warned Erik ten Hag over some important decisions he will need to make once he takes over. In his comments that appeared in The Mirror, the former footballer asked the Ajax boss to get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire from the squad.
Rene van der Gijp said, “He just needs to get rid of those troublemakers; Ronaldo, Pogba, Maguire.”
He suggested that Manchester United should look at other managerial options if they decide to keep Ronaldo, insisting it should be someone the Portuguese has worked with before. “Ronaldo would get along fine with [Zinedine] Zidane. They are on the same level,” he said.
As things stand, Pogba is primed to leave the club in the summer as a free agent, while Manchester United are reportedly looking for Ronaldo replacements in the market. However, in the case of Maguire, selling him would be tricky given his recent performances and the possible price tag that hangs on his shoulders.
As for Erik ten Hag, the primary objective would be to bring together a highly unstable team and make necessary changes to the squad. Many big players in the team have been disruptive to the club’s plans this season, and if appointed as the next manager, there could be some hard decisions for him to make before next season.
