The speculation about Erik ten Hag joining Manchester United from next season are increasing by the day. Manchester United are in a crisis this season and since the appointment of Ralf Rangnick, things have gone from bad to worse for the Red Devils.
They started the season with high hopes after completing some major transfers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, and Jadon Sancho, and are now sitting at 7th place in the Premier League, a long way away from the Champions League spot.
Is Eric ten Hag the Right Fit for the Red Devils?
Erik ten Hag is doing an incredible job at Ajax, where he has managed to stay consistent with his style of play and dominance since his appointment in 2017. During his time at Ajax, he has stayed on top in the League as well as in Europe, regardless of the departure of some key players.
His football philosophy is what makes him so desirable to Manchester United, as the attacking style of play and the high pressing is what drives modern football. Everyone that has watched at least one Manchester United match knows that the team lacks exactly these factors.
Many people were using a bonus code in Louisiana to claim a risk-free bet and place it on Manchester United in their last week’s match against Leicester but failed to materialise. After this match, the odds for Erik ten Hag joining the Red Devils have been drastically increased.
Manchester United has a shortlist of four managers, where Erik ten Hag is leading the race for the hot seat in front of the other three colleagues: Sevilla’s Julen Lopetegui, Spain coach Luis Enrique, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauricio Pochettino.
What was said in the interview?
Erik ten Hag was interviewed by representatives from Manchester United last month, which shows how serious the Red Devils are about his appointment. There are some reports that say that Erik Ten Hag told the representatives that he needs a five-year plan to overhaul the club.
This means that the Dutch manager is preparing for long-term rehabilitation of the club if he manages to get the job. In the interview Ten Hag insisted that the current Manchester United squad is nowhere near the Champions League standards.
He stated that the players must improve their fitness levels for the club to be able to compete with the best clubs in Europe such as Real Madrid, Man City, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool. All these clubs are playing with a more demanding and attacking style, which shows why they are so successful.
On the other hand, it is also reported that the Manchester United representatives weren’t blown away by Ten Hag’s recruitment process and he didn’t leave a strong impression. Last summer, there were reports that the Dutch manager didn’t get the Spurs job because of his lack of charisma.
Will there be changes in the current squad?
Erik ten Hag went on to propose a list of potential new signings that he would want to bring on to the new club, should he get the desired job. On this list, he has included several players from his current Ajax squad, which are essential for his style of play and for conducting his philosophy.
In the case of appointing Erik ten Hag, Manchester United might enter the new season without several of its very expensive key players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, and Harry Maguire. Basically, all players that have more individual preferences and lack team play might leave the club in the summer.
This will open some space for new signings that will fit the club’s needs under the leadership of Erik ten Hag. But it is still too early to speculate on potential transfers, as there is no official news about the appointment of Ten Hag.
