Manchester United looked set to appoint Erik ten Hag as their new manager last month, but another setback has delayed the potential appointment once more.
With Ralf Rangnick's interim deal set to expire on June 1, United have been looking to make a new long-term summer appointment after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked last year. And Ten Hag is the favourite to land the role after already being interviewed by the Red Devils.
The Dutchman has banned English media from attending Ajax press conferences as he looks to see out the current season with the champions-elect. But amid reports that Ten Hag is looking to assemble his new backroom team ahead of a potential switch to United, a fresh stumbling block has occurred.
Reports have suggested that Ten Hag is looking to bring former United star Robin van Persie back to Old Trafford as part of a new look coaching staff. But according to The Times, this may be more complicated than initially expected due to implications caused by Brexit.
Ten Hag is reportedly keen on poaching Van Persie from Feyenoord and bringing him to Manchester, but United fear that due to issues with a work permit, the Dutchman may be denied entry. The former United striker is the current Feyenoord assistant manager, but lacks elite coaching experience.
Van Persie has only recently called time on his playing career to focus on coaching, and has been at Feyenoord since hanging up his boots. But due to his inexperience working in an elite coaching role, a UK work permit is said to be more difficult to obtain post-Brexit.
The news comes shortly after it was revealed that RB Leipzig were looking to hijack United's deal by offering the Dutchman a bank-busting contract. The Bundesliga club believe he can transform them into contenders both domestically and in Europe, and have also been in discussions with the Ajax boss for a number of weeks.
It's unlikely that Ten Hag would turn down United's approach in favour of making the switch to Leipzig. But the Dutchman has reportedly told bosses at Old Trafford that he wants to have the authority to put his own stamp on the club's playing squad.
If Ten Hag doesn't think that United are committed to providing him with the players he desires, the Dutchman is said to be prepared to turn down their approach. And it could leave United in a vulnerable position, as they are just months away from being left without a manager.
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Ten Hag isn't the only name being mentioned though, as Mauricio Pochettino is also one of the favourites to land the role, and his Premier League experience will only help his case. The Argentine has already managed both Southampton and Tottenham, and his family are still living in London to this day.
The Paris Saint Germain boss is still living out of a hotel in the French capital, and is destined to be sacked after yet another disastrous Champions League exit from the Parisiens. But Pochettino continues to manage at the Parc Des Princes, with the Ligue 1 leaders keeping their options open.
Van Persie would be a welcome addition back at Old Trafford should Ten Hag take the role, but there is still a lot of work to do to ensure that he can legally work back in England. The Dutchman forward enjoyed three seasons at United between 2012 and 2015, and he fired them to their last Premier League title, scoring 26 Premier League goals to give Sir Alex Ferguson the perfect send-off.
