Ajax chief admits Erik ten Hag to Man Utd is a possibility, but doubles down on club stance

Ajax technical manager Gerry Hamstra admits coach Erik ten Hag could move to Manchester United this summer, although he also doubled down on the Dutch club’s stance.

ten Hag is rivalling Mauricio Pochettino for the position, which should come available this summer. Interim boss Ralf Rangnick will start a two-year consultancy role at the end of the season.

Manchester United have recently held interview with both candidates, while also completing background checks on them.

The race for the job is hard to call. ten Hag has previously been the ‘favourite’, but that seems to change each week.

On Tuesday, Dutch journalist Henk Spaan explained one reason why ten Hag may swap Ajax for United. His club failed to back him with the capture of Steven Bergwijn from Tottenham, which ‘will not encourage the Dutchman to stay’.

Former United boss Louis van Gaal, now in charge of the Netherlands, has also spoken about ten Hag’s future.

He thinks the 52-year-old should avoid going to Old Trafford, calling them a ‘commercial club’. Instead, the tactician has been told to join a ‘football club’.

It is now Hamstra’s turn to weigh in on the manager links. During an interview with Dutch outlet Voetbal International (via the Daily Mirror), he admitted ten Hag could join United ahead of next season.

However, the chief also emphasised his importance to Ajax going forward.

“It would be fantastic if he is still Ajax’s coach next season,” Hamstra said. “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