Premier League winner Joe Cole is concerned Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag could clash over transfers and footballing philosophy if the latter is appointed by Manchester United.
The Red Devils are reportedly close to announcing Ten Hag as their new manager. The club's hierarchy have heled talks with the Ajax boss and are willing to match his release clause, believed to be £1.67million. The finer details of the deal are yet to be revealed.
Interim manager Rangnick will remain at Old Trafford beyond the summer as a consultant and will have a say on transfers and the team's identity. Ten Hag is not a disciple of Rangnick, instead adopting Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's methods.
It has also been claimed that Ten Hag told United chiefs he believes it will need five years to fully implement his plans at Old Trafford. And Cole is concerned he will not be granted the patience to see that through.
"You need time, you won’t get it," the former Chelsea and West Ham star told BT Sport. "You need patience from the fans, you won't get it.
"We look at Ralf Rangnick, go backwards three months when he came in and we talk about this great pressing team, they play this type of football. And then what does Ten Hag’s team play? They play slow, methodical build up football so you’ve already flip-flapped from what he was. That doesn’t seem like a match made in heaven.
"Ralf Rangnick, if he steps upstairs his natural inkling will be to get types of players that are aggressive, physical, on the front foot, pressing… and Ten Hag might want, I’m not saying Jorginho, but like a Jorginho, a build-up technician player.
Should Manchester United appoint Erik ten Hag? Let us know in the comments below!
"For me the problems... unless they sort out what’s going on around Ten Hag, the structure is just going to be another manager that comes in and another manager that fails at Man Utd. Unless that structure around him is in place and the fans are on board, the players are on board."
And Cole isn't the only high-profile figure to have reservations about Ten Hag's impending appointment. United legend Wayne Rooney believes his former club should appoint Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino after his exploits at Tottenham.
The Argentine, who is younger than Ten Hag, built a superb team at Spurs that challenged in all competitions - although they never quite managed to get over the line. But his failure to win the Champions League at PSG has led to many questioning his credentials.
"I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League," Rooney told Sky Sports. "He knows the Premier League and at Tottenham he brought a lot of players through. He did it at Southampton as well. If I'm choosing from one of the two, that's who I'd choose.
"He would need to be given time to place his blueprint on the club and on the team. If you give him time, I think he'd do well."
Rooney added: "They have to rebuild the squad and everything around the first team and the club to make sure they put themselves in a position in two or three years' time where they can actually go and challenge again for the Premier League."
