Erik ten Hag reacts to claims he is taking English lessons amid links with Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has pushed back on reports that he is taking English lessons ahead of a potential move to Manchester United, labelling the claims as 'not true.'

United are on the hunt for a permanent successor for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to take over the reins from interim manager Ralf Rangnick. The process is already underway and it's understood the club hope to have a new manager in place by the end of the season.

However, that task is made difficult by the fact that leading candidates Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are already in work with high-profile clubs, Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively. Over the last week, Ten Hag looks to have at least pulled level with Pochettino in the running after PSG were embarrassingly knocked out of the Champions League despite being in a commanding position by Real Madrid.

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A report from the Daily Mail claimed that the Dutchman was taking English lessons ahead of talks with United. However, Ten Hag has moved to deny the speculation by pointing out he already speaks English plenty at his club.

"No, that's not true!" he told BT Sport, in perfect English. "We talk English in the club because we have a lot of foreign players in Holland you get educated in English. So..."

Ten Hag was also quizzed on recent comments that he could be ready to take another job away from Amsterdam. However, he wouldn't be drawn on the topic and insisted all his focus was on Ajax's Champions League tie with Benfica.

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"I don't think it today the issue," he added.