The Manchester Evening News understands that Manchester United have held talks with Erik ten Hag about the Dutch manager potentially becoming the club's next permanent manager. The club however wants to make sure they leave no stone unturned and are committed to interviewing all shortlisted candidates before a final decision is made.
United fans are, however, already getting excited ahead of any potential appointment as it would signal the first step in the club's new project. And if Ten Hag is to be the chosen one, he has already outlined what he expects from the Old Trafford faithful.
During Ajax's high-stakes title clash with Feyenoord at the weekend, fans were heard jeering the club's keeper Andre Onana. The Cameroon international is leaving the Dutch club in the summer, with his contract expiring, and fans have not taken kindly to those intentions.
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In his post-match press conference, Ten Hag said: "After the break, we got the fans back [on side]. But it's also nice if the supporters give an impulse when things don't go well and the game seems dead. In the second half, you saw what that support can do to our team.”
Ajax came out 3-2 winners after a hard-fought game in which they were twice trailing, but Ten Hag appeared in no mood to celebrate after witnessing a section of support jeering his keeper. It is reminiscent of United's 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, where the fans were constantly berating Harry Maguire throughout the match despite the player not doing too much wrong.
But he also showed how the fans can be used as a positive. The Old Trafford crowd was always a big factor in United's success at home, driving them forward when they need to score and never letting them rest on their laurels.
As the season has gone on and results have not gone United's way, the mood has understandably soured at Old Trafford. There are little signs of it improving, too, with Arsenal and Tottenham's form making a top-four finish feel more distant by the week.
But next season marks a clean slate for the squad under Ten Hag, or whichever manager the club chose. If it is Ten Hag, he will likely endear himself to the match-going fans by echoing the words of managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson by emphasising their importance to everything the team does. Acting as United's 12th man.
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