Erik ten Hag is reportedly very close to becoming Manchester United's next permanent boss.
The current Ajax coach quickly emerged as a leading candidate for the role alongside Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino shortly after interim Man United boss Ralf Rangnick was handed the reins at Old Trafford in 2021.
Man United are said to have held formal talks with Ajax in a bid to establish Ten Hag's release clause. The coach is out of contract at the end of the season and is believed to be very keen to join the Red Devils and test himself in the Premier League.
According to the Daily Mail, Ajax are due just over £1.6million in compensation for Ten Hag. The Red Devils may also have to pay additional fees should the Dutchman look to bring members of his backroom staff with him to Old Trafford.
Man United football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher have been working alongside chief executive Richard Arnold throughout the hiring process.
ESPN reports that co-owner Joel Glazer will have the final say on who United hire, despite early reports suggesting Rangnick - who moves upstairs to work a two-year consultancy role at Old Trafford at the end of the season - would have more input.
Man United are yet to make any kind of announcement as to whether Ten Hag will manage the Red Devils next season, let alone confirm the date he will be presented as the new boss.
But as Ten Hag cannot take the reins until the end of the season, it has been reported that Manchester United will hold off making an official announcement until then.
As for why Ten Hag has now emerged as the prefered candidate over Pochettino and is very likely to beat him to the coveted post, is simply because Glazer is more of a fan of the Dutchman.
According to ESPN, both Arnold and Glazer are in agreement that Ten Haag is the better option for Man United to replace Rangnick for the long term and lead the Red Devils back to glory.
