Erik ten Hag has been told to get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire if he were to be appointed Manchester United 's new manager.
The Ajax boss is currently the favourite to replace Ralf Rangnick in the Old Trafford dugout, who is in charge until the end of the season on an interim basis. Ten Hag, having been interviewed by Red Devils chiefs, would then run his rule over the United squad and craft it to his liking. But while the 52-year-old is the frontrunner ahead of Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui, he has been warned to axe the three stars who have been labelled 'troublemakers'.
"He just needs to get rid of those troublemakers; Ronaldo, Pogba, Maguire," declared Rene van der Gijp, a former Netherlands international who now hosts Dutch chat show Vendaag Inside, which attracts 1.4 million viewers per night, amid speculation that Ten Hag had held 'positive' talks with the Red Devils.
Van der Gijp then suggested a better option to manage Ronaldo - someone who the United's No.7 has already worked with. "Ronaldo would get along fine with [Zinedine] Zidane," the ex- PSV winger added, with Zidane having managed Ronaldo while at Real Madrid "They are on the same level."
Ten Hag may not even have to shift Pogba out himself, with the midfielder's contract expiring in June and all signs pointing towards a departure on a free transfer. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has one year remaining on his deal and Maguire is still club captain, despite relentless criticism for his performances at centre-back this campaign.
Former United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has questioned Maguire's long-term suitability for a top level team, admitting on his YouTube channel, Vibe with Five : "For all the good traits that [Maguire] has in his game, [pace] is a big weakness and that is a fundamental of all of the top teams; to be able to play one-v-one on the halfway line. So, I think for Maguire, long-term - unless he can find that extra yard of pace - it's gonna be difficult for him."
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While Ten Hag would undoubtedly be tempted by a move to one of the world's biggest clubs, United will reportedly face competition for his signature, as two Champions League clubs are said to be keen on his services. The word from Manchester remains that multiple candidates are being assessed, but whoever lands the job will have a tough task ahead of them according to David Moyes, who was the first Red Devils manager of the post- Sir Alex Ferguson era and lasted just 10 months.
"I keep hearing about Man United needing a top coach to make the difference. Man United have had Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, who are two of the best coaches in the world — both excellent, both winners," Moyes told Alan Shearer in an interview for The Athletic.
"One is an unbelievable coach, one a great winner. Man United have had a lot of top managers. Not putting myself in that category at all, but they've had some great managers. The difficulty for them now is to really find the same rhythm they found under Sir Alex, which when you look back now was incredible for their football club, it really was."
