Manchester United ‘reach an agreement with Erik ten Hag’ to become next manager

Manchester United have reached an agreement in principle with Erik ten Hag to take over as manager next season after a formal offer was made on Tuesday morning. 

Both parties have verbally agreed a four-year contract for the Ajax boss to take the helm at Old Trafford. 

The Dutch side still have to negotiate the terms of his departure and the backroom staff Ten Hag will take to United will be finalised in the near future. 

United, who lost at lowly Everton at the weekend, look like they could miss out on the top four 

United executives are hopeful they can iron out the final touches with their Ajax counterparts by the end of the week. 

In terms of backroom staff, Steve McLaren is likely to come in along with Mitchell Van De Gaag, while Robin van Persie’s work permit and current contract situation at Feyenoord mean there are doubts about him linking up.  

Ajax have a huge game against PSV in the final of the Dutch Cup on April 17 and do not plan on making any announcements until after then. 

United, Ten Hag and Ajax still need to add the finer details to a deal but it now seems an inevitability that he will be charged with reviving United’s fortunes. 

He will replace Ralf Rangnick, who took interim charge following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

Ten Hag has impressed at Ajax and they have punched above their weight in Europe 

Rangnick looks as though he will fail to steer United to a top four spot so Ten Hag could begin his tenure with the team either in the Europa League or out of Europe, making it harder to attract players in he summer.  

Mauricio Pochettino had been the other front-runner to take over at United but it seems the former Tottenham and current PSG boss has been pipped to the post. 

Ten Hag has impressed with Ajax since taking charge in 2017 having previously worked as second-team boss at Bayern Munich when Pep Guardiola was in charge. 

The 52-year-old guided Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, where they lost against Spurs courtesy of a dramatic late Lucas goal.  

Ten Hag will have a huge job on his hands when he takes he reins. 

United are struggling in the league and it has been another year devoid of trophies 

United fans are still protesting the Glazer ownership of the club and many believe the glory of the Sir Alex Ferguson years will be impossible to recapture without the Americans selling up.   

Ten Hag will no doubt want to leave Ajax on positive terms and he could do just that with a domestic double. 

His side are four points clear of PSV and have the chance to beat them in the Cup this Sunday.