Ajax are expecting Erik ten Hag to become the next permanent Manchester United manager and if that turns out to be the case, the Dutchman has a major rebuild ahead of him.
The Manchester Evening News reported last week that the 52-year-old's current club were bracing themselves for the two-time Eredivisie winner to swap the Dutch top-flight for the Premier League. As Ajax continue to lead the Eredivisie, United's ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League are hanging by a thread.
With much of the United discussion surrounding the current crop of players and who stays or goes, Ten Hag has a good track record of developing top-class players in Amsterdam. In recent seasons, Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong are just two of the players to have moved to elite European clubs, and here are some of Ten Hag's other success stories.
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Dusan Tadic
The Serb is into his fourth year with the Eredivisie champions. Tadic always looked a talent during his time in the Premier League with Southampton, becoming Ronald Koeman's first signing at the club.
During the transitional phase on the south coast, the Saints established themselves as European hopefuls before a whole host of different managers arrived and departed. Tadic swapped the Premier League for the Eredivisie in 2018 and hasn't looked back.
The 33-year-old has emphasised his importance to Ten Hag's side over the past few seasons. In his four years in the Netherlands, he has won two Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups.
Antony
The 22-year-old Brazilian arrived from Sao Paulo in 2020 and has already flourished in the Dutch capital, garnering interest from some top clubs including United. Antony's form at club level earned him an international call-up to Tite's side where he has scored twice in nine appearances.
Flamboyant, quick and skilful, Antony has established himself as a key member of Ten Hag's side and has notched eight goals and four assists in 23 league appearances this term.
Donny van de Beek
Van de Beek remains a curious case of what could've been at United. Although it remains to be seen whether it's mismanagement or just an inability to adapt to the Premier League.
However, in his homeland, he shone for his boyhood club under Ten Hag. It was Van de Beek who was the linchpin in the midfield for the Dutch side as they went on their remarkable Champions League run in 2019 that ended in semi-final defeat.
There is a concern that Van de Beek could miss out on the Netherlands squad for this winter's World Cup, but the appointment of Ten Hag could see such worries become a thing of the past.
Hakim Ziyech
If United are struggling for creativity in the final third, Ziyech has it in abundance. The Moroccan was a massive part of the Ajax side that made it to the last four in the Champions League, whether he was dropping deep to influence the game or driving forward.
Although his time with Chelsea has been frustrating, he has shown brief glimpses of what he can offer to Thomas Tuchel's side. The 29-year-old does have Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup winner's medals to show for his time at Stamford Bridge.
Sebastien Haller
Haller is similar to Van de Beek in a lot of ways in that he struggled in England with West Ham. Since his move to the Johan Cruyff Arena he has flourished, scoring 46 goals in 60 appearances for the club.
Haller has been an important member of Ten Hag's side as they continue their pursuit of Eredivisie dominance. The Dutchman has managed to get the best out of the forward both domestically and in Europe, making his time at the Hammers seem nothing more than a blip.
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