United have got their man, it seems.
Erik ten Hag is set to become the next manager of Manchester United, according to reports.
The 52-year-old looks set to leave his position as Ajax manager at the end of the season to take charge at Old Trafford, where he will replace interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
United stepped up their pursuit of a new permanent manager over the course of the last few weeks, with Ten Hag and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino both seen as frontrunners for the position.
According to ESPN, Ten Hag is set to be appointed ahead of Pochettino.
Ten Hag gets the job despite admiration for Pochettino
The Dutchman has been in charge at Ajax for five years. Despite operating on a fraction of the budget of some of Europe’s other top clubs, they have been regulars in the Champions League, where they again reached the knockout stages this season.
Pochettino, meanwhile, has endured a difficult season at PSG. Despite also reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, his side were eliminated by Real Madrid, with supporters venting their anger at Neymar, Lionel Messi and some of their other stars in the next home game.
This, coupled with the perceived difficulty in negotiating his release with PSG, where he is under contract for another 12 months, is thought to have encouraged United to move for Ten Hag, who held discussions with the club’s hierarchy in March.
Rangnick expected to move into consultancy role
Rangnick, who was named interim boss after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is expected to move into a consultancy role with United when Ten Hag assumed control.
The German’s arrival in late November failed to spark a significant upturn in United’s form. As well as losing ground in the race for a top-four finish, United were eliminated from the FA Cup by Middlesbrough in the fourth round, and also went out of the Champions League to Atletico Madrid in the last 16.
Ten Hag faces a difficult task as he begins life at United, with Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard expected to be two of several members of the first-team squad to leave the squad over the summer.
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