Erik ten Hag has, over the past fortnight, seemingly emerged as the favourite to become the new Manchester United boss in the summer, with Ralf Rangnick’s interim period in charge due to come to an end.
The Red Devils are in a mess. Trying to evolve into a modern, ball-playing side as they have watched rivals Manchester City and Liverpool do in the last decade, their best players are woefully unsuited to the task.
As a result, the tactical shift that Rangnick has tried to introduce since he took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November of 2021 has not yielded the desired results, with United now sitting in 7th place in the Premier League, level on points with West Ham but having played a game fewer than their former manager's new side.
And Erik ten Hag, current Ajax boss, has been sounded out as a potential summer replacement, an appointment made more appealing as a result of his small release clause, believed to be under £2 million. However, the Independent report that he has 'not blown people away' in his interview for the role, leaving the door open for others.
Why he has failed to impress
There seem to be several reasons that ten Hag's name has not risen to the top of the list as a result of the interview process. Firstly, the fact that he does not believe that he can offer instant success at Old Trafford, despite the lavish spending recently. As per the report, 'he believes the job is a five-year project during his interview for the permanent manager’s role'.
'The 52-year-old put together a comprehensive dossier on the squad, where he argued United have been some way off “Champions League shape” in some time', they continue, while he wanted 'particular attention paid to fitness.'
Despite the reservations, however, it now seems as though a deal is close, with ESPN Netherlands reporting that an agreement is almost wrapped up for the Dutchman to take his place in the Old Trafford hotseat this summer.
Whether he will be given the time to carry out his five-year project is another matter.
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