Erik ten Hag has sounded out Robin van Persie about returning to Manchester United as part of his backroom staff.
Ten Hag is already putting plans in place should United appoint him manager in the summer. And he wants to take Van Persie back to Old Trafford with him.
Ten Hag has already started informal talks with the former Dutch striker, who scored 26 goals and won the Golden Boot when United last won the title under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. RVP is currently taking his coaching badges and working with the Under-16s team in Feyenoord’s Academy.
But Ten Hag believes the Dutchman’s knowledge of United would be invaluable if the Reds decide to take him from Ajax at the end of the season.
Van Persie is tempted by the prospect of working in the Premier League again. But his son, Shaqueel, has just signed his first contract with Feyenoord and is working alongside his father in the club’s youth set-up.
The youngster is a talented player who signed for Manchester City ’s academy when his dad played for United.
Van Persie’s daughter Dina is also one of Holland’s biggest showjumping talents - and that’s another factor that he will take into account. Ten Hag is now the favourite to land the United job - and it to prise the 52-year-old away from the Amsterdam giants.
United believed they would have to pay just under £5million as compensation for the final 12 months of Ten Hag’s contract once they lodged an official approach. But Mirror Sport can reveal that Ten Hag inserted a get-out clause in the deal he signed a year ago - and that it can be triggered for just €2million (£1.68million).
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That is a bargain for United - even though Paris St Germain are unlikely to demand compensation for Mauricio Pochettino should the Argentine want to walk away at the end of the season. United have now spoken to Ten Hag, Pochettino and Spain boss Luis Enrique They are yet to table contractual terms to any of the candidates.
Two other clubs also have Ten Hag on their radar - one a powerful Bundesliga outfit - and both have already made him serious offers. Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar has also offered to hand him a new deal that would double his current £2million-a-year salary - but the former United keeper is already braced for Ten Hag’s departure.
Ten Hag told Ajax last April that he would only sign their two-year contract offer if he could include an escape clause that kicked in this summer and at a fixed level of compensation.
He wanted to stay loyal to the Dutch club and their sporting director Marc Overmars.
But Ten Hag also felt it necessary to keep his options open - and the shameful departure of Overmars after a sexting scandal has prompted to look for a fresh challenge.
Ten Hag wants to build a team capable of competing for the Champions League. He was just a minute away from reaching the final in 2019 before Lucas Moura’s goal sent Tottenham through to meet Liverpool.
And he fears Ajax’s stance of selling top players for the right place is a huge obstacle when it comes to competing with Europe’s elite.
Ten Hag has already earmarked two players he would like to bring with him from Amsterdam.
Brazilian winger Anthony, 22, has scored 12 goals and made eight assists during an outstanding campaign in which Ajax are challenging for a third successive Eredivisie title.
And Ten Hag also feels that centre-back Jurrien Timber will immediately address United’s defensive problems. The 20-year-old has already played for Holland and will be part of Louis van Gaal’s squad for the World Cup.
