Erik Ten Hag completes Man Utd interview and now 'clear favourite' to be next manager

Erik ten Hag has emerged as the 'clear favourite' for the vacant Manchester United job after he reportedly completed an interview with the Old Trafford hierarchy earlier this week.

The Ajax chief has been one of the frontrunners for the United job, along with Mauricio Pochettino, ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was axed back in November. But the Dutchman has seemingly nudged ahead of the former Tottenham man in recent weeks as the process draws closer to a conclusion.

And according to The Daily Mail, Ten Hag spoke to the club on Monday and is now in pole position to land the top job. The report outlines that there is now an 'expectation' at Ajax that their coveted coach will be prised away from Amsterdam in the summer after a year of persistent speculation linking Ten Hag with a move to the Premier League.

The 52-year-old was interviewed for the Tottenham job after Jose Mourinho was sacked, while Newcastle made an unsuccessful attempt to lure the Ajax chief to Tyneside after their Saudi-backed takeover was given the green light late last year.

But there's a chance that Ten Hag will now make the jump to the Premier League after speaking with United - although other names such as Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui are still in the frame for the role. The process, which is being led by director of football John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher, has advanced to the next stage after an initial research period was finally completed last month.

While Ten Hag has been spoken to about the role, there is a growing acceptance at the club that Thomas Tuchel is currently unobtainable. The Chelsea chief had emerged as a surprise candidate for the job amid the takeover turmoil that has engulfed the