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Erik ten Hag ‘is ready to become Manchester United manager’

Published 16:49 13 Mar 2022 GMT

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'Ajax can not buy the calibre of players needed.'

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is prepared to become Manchester United manager at the end of the season according to reports. The 52-year-old has grown frustrated at Ajax's inability to financially compete with their Champions League counterparts. The Mirror reports that if the Dutchman was to become Man United manager - he would be willing to offer current interim boss Ralf Rangnick a role in his coaching staff.

Erik ten Hag on Ajax.

Ten Hag emphasised the 'short lifespan' of Ajax's squad due to the selling culture at the club. The Dutchman wants to improve and compete in the Champions League each season. Ten Hag, however, knows he cannot continue to build without making big-money signings. Losing their best players to more lucrative leagues is another downfall for the Dutchman. The Ajax manager has been in charge since 2017 and has won the Eredivisie twice in that time. He also reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2019.

"The lifespan of our team has always been short in recent years. I understood - and still understand - the sale of players," said ten Hag.

"But you can hardly cope with such bloodletting if you want to continue to play a significant role in the Champions League.

"You need giant players for that - and Ajax can not buy that calibre of players."

Ten Hag's Man United vision.

The current plan for Rangnick is to take up a consultancy position at the end of the season with the insight of having managed the first team. Ten Hag hopes to keep the current interim manager involved in coaching if he was appointed the next Man United manager. Man United have a net spend of over one billion pounds since Alex Ferguson retired from his post in 2013. Since then, the Red Devils have had the highest net spend in the Premier League. Ten Hag would not have the transfer predicament that he currently faces at Ajax. The 52-year-old would have the financial backing to sign the players required to play his attacking brand of possession football.