Erik ten Hag draws ultimate Sir Alex Ferguson praise amid Man Utd manager links

Erik ten Hag has been likened to Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United step up their efforts to appoint their next permanent manager.

The Dutchman has completed his interview with club chiefs and is the runaway favourite to take over at Old Trafford this summer, when Ralf Rangnick will leave his post as interim boss to begin a two-year consultancy role. However, PSG's Mauricio Pochettino, Sevilla's Julen Lopetegui and Spain's Luis Enrique have also been shortlisted, so Ten Hag is far from a shoo-in for the hot seat.

Nonetheless, he has received a wholehearted vote of confidence from Steve McClaren. The former England manager served as Ferguson's assistant at United between 1999 and 2001 and can see clear parallels between the Ajax boss and his old "gaffer".

McClaren discussed Ten Hag's remarkable attention to the most minute of details in an interview with the Daily Telegraph , saying: "The only other one I would have seen do that? That would have been the gaffer [Ferguson]." McClaren is speaking from experience because Ten Hag served as his assistant when he was managing Eredivisie club Twente. The Yorkshireman was keen to emphasise his ex-colleague offers far more than a focus on the details as he also advocates a strong work ethic which has earned him a Pep Guardiola nickname on the continent.

Video: Erik ten Hag in profile as Man Utd 'open talks' with Ajax boss (Mirror)

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