The Eredivisie’s most exciting coach at the moment, Erik ten Hag, is the alternative target for Manchester United if Mauricio Pochettino does not become the club’s new manager next summer.
When I heard about the imminent appointment of Ralf Rangnick, coming in on an interim basis until the end of the season, I thought it would see United lean more towards Ten Hag than Pochettino – but time will tell and there’s a lot of football to play this season.
Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain are both going strong in their domestic leagues as well as the Champions League, but the Daily Mail claims Pochettino is the favourite to take over from Rangnick in June.
Erik ten Hag is said to be interested in the #mufc job and Ajax would not stand in his way if he wants to leave at the end of the season #mulive [@SamiMokbel81_DM, @ChrisWheelerDM]
— utdreport (@utdreport) November 26, 2021
That depends on whether Pochettino can cut short his contract with PSG.
The same report stresses that United will turn to Ten Hag if the club are unsuccessful in their approach to appoint Pochettino, who has a contract in Paris until 2023.
Ten Hag’s contract at Ajax expires in 2023 too, but Ajax would not stand in his way if he wants to leave at the end of the season, the report also claims.
It helps that Ajax chief executive is former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
SN’s verdict…
Manchester United appear to have a plan in place with Ralf Rangnick coming in and I have no doubt that he will be part of the decision making process when the time comes to find a new manager.
It also gives the two managers in question time to audition for the biggest job in football.
Finally, it feels like United has a sense of direction about the football club again.
