Ajax's technical manager has declared his wish to keep coach Erik ten Hag away from Manchester United's clutches, but conceded the Dutch club "know how the world works".
Ten Hag is the favourite to become the next United manager this summer and was recently interviewed for the position. The Dutchman has impressed in his homeland, winning two Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups. He also guided Ajax to within seconds of the Champions League final in 2018-19, conceding a late goal to Tottenham.
Crucially, he also has 15 months remaining on his existing deal and the club's technical manager Gerry Hamstra is hopeful he will stay on board - but he admits that will be difficult. "It would be fantastic if he is still Ajax’s coach next season," Hamstra told Voetbal International. "He still has an ongoing contract with Ajax, but we also all know how the world works.
"Erik is a professional and focuses on this season himself, on the important months ahead in which the prizes will be distributed. The future will tell, but it is clear that Erik is very important for Ajax."
Ten Hag is just one of many to be linked with the United job, including Paris Saint-Germain's Mauricio Pochettino, Spain's Luis Enrique and Sevilla's Julen Lopetegui. Interim manager Ralf Rangnick is expected to start a two-year consultancy gig in the summer.
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United are currently enduring a tough campaign. They're sixth in the Premier League, four points behind Arsenal in fourth having played a game more. They also failed to challenge in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League. United's last trophy was the Europa League, won under Jose Mourinho in May 2017.
There's no guarantee Ten Hag will accept the United job if offered, especially after Louis van Gaal's comments. The Netherlands boss, who was United manager between 2014 and 2016, produced a brutal reply when asked if Ten Hag should move to Old Trafford.
"I think Erik ten Hag is a great coach, he has shown that several times," said Van Gaal at the weekend. "And a great coach is always good for Manchester United... [but] Manchester United is a commercial club and those are difficult choices for a coach.
"It is better to go to a football club. I'm not going to supervise his career and he will call me himself. But he should choose a football club, not a commercial club."
Despite this, former Premier League defender Matthew Upson has called for Ten Hag to join United. "You have to analyse him as a possible fit," Upson told Sky Sports. "He's coached a team to a good level, got a good style of play which I think is important."
Upson added: "Ajax is probably one of the best clubs in Europe for having the record of developing players and making them world-class. I think that's something interesting, he's absorbed that philosophy." Ten Hag has led Ajax to the top of the Eredivisie this season, currently two points clear of PSV Eindhoven in second with seven fixtures remaining.
