Manchester United are reportedly facing competition for Erik ten Hag, with two European clubs understood to have approached the Dutchman.
Ten Hag is thought to be one of the frontrunners to take over from Ralf Rangnick on a long-term basis at Old Trafford. He has impressed since taking charge of Ajax in 2017, winning two Eredivisie and KNVB Cup doubles during his time at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
The Dutchman held talks with United earlier this week as the Premier League giants step up their search for a new boss. He is contending with Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique for the job, with Ajax understood to be resigned to losing him in some manner come the end of the season.
The Red Devils are keen to name their new manager before the summer, but are set to face a tougher battle than expected to bring in Ten Hag. That is because Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan has revealed two other major European sides are also interested in making him their new manager.
Pulling those two sides ahead of United is the fact that both are perennial Champions League qualifiers as well as being regular title challengers. That is something the Red Devils will not be able to offer to their new boss, having fallen behind Arsenal in the race to finish in the top four, as well as remaining some way behind Premier League title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
"There are three major opportunities for Erik ten Hag. Manchester United is only one of them. I don't want to dampen the excitement in England but maybe United have not done all the work yet," Van der Kraan told Sky Sports.
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"Yes, they've had positive talks with Ten Hag but so have two other major clubs in Europe. These are clubs who play Champions League football and who have chances to win titles in their own country.
"One of those clubs is very concrete for Ten Hag, and I think that is on mainland Europe - not in England. I know for a fact that Ten Hag is very excited about that job too."
With those two club having also approached Ten Hag, United have been warned they must table an offer soon if they decide he is their preferred candidate. Talks have been planned with Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui, but Van der Kraan believes a decision needs to be made soon to ensure they do not miss out.
"If Manchester United want to get things going, they will have to speed things up and make things concrete. They will have to put a contract out to him because I think there's a real danger it could become too late for him," Van der Kraan added.
"For Ten Hag, there may be the consideration of the graveyard Manchester United has been for managers. Not everything during his career has gone well for United when you see how Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all failed and seen their reputations damaged. It needs some more convincing from United."
