Erik Ten Hag makes decision on leaving Ajax amid Manchester United speculation

Erik ten Hag is ready to leave Ajax at the end of the season, regardless of whether Manchester United decide to hire him or not.

The Dutchman is a leading candidate to become United’s next manager and he’s battling with Mauricio Pochettino to replace Ralf Rangnick.

Ten Hag has made no secret of his desire to manage in one of Europe’s top leagues and he admitted late last year that he feels ‘ready’ for the next step.

United are interested in both ten Hag and Pochettino but they have to take into consideration that both managers are under contract, meaning they will have to pay significant compensation to hire either of them.

Paris Saint-Germain are likely to sack Pochettino after the club’s Champions League exit but they could wait for United to make a move first, while Ajax are overjoyed with the job that ten Hag is doing.

United are said to be leaning towards ten Hag after he impressed in interview but they’ve offered no guarantee over which direction they’ll go in.

But the Dutchman appears to have made up his mind about leaving Amsterdam regardless of United’s decision, meaning he could be on the open market by next season.

Manchester City view ten Hag as a potential successor for Pep Guardiola, though the Spaniard shows no signing of stepping down at the Etihad.

United would therefore face the threat of losing out on ten Hag if they opt for Pochettino, whose reputation has taken a battering after PSG’s exit to Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16.

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