Manchester United have already made their most important decision of the summer

Former Manchester United forward Teddy Sheringham believes the club have already made their most important decision of the summer, by appointing Erik ten Hag as the club's next manager. Ten Hag has been handed a three-year contract and he will start to try and turn the club's fortunes around when he takes office in June.

Sheringham had a preference for Mauricio Pochettino ahead of Ten Hag, but insists the appointment of a manager and the task of restoring confidence to the players is the most vital aspect of a defining summer.

A week ago interim boss Ralf Rangnick suggested United might need as many as 10 new players this summer, but Sheringham believes it is the manager who will set the tone for any improvement next season, rather than significant upheaval in the squad.

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"It’s not about players for me, it’s about the manager, getting someone in to be there for the next four or five years, saying 'this is how we play, this is the players I want, you’re either with me or you’re not, but I’m going to make this club better'," Sheringham told the Manchester Evening News.

"Manchester United are sliding, you’ve got people laughing at them, the manager needs to make the right decisions to get back on a good footing.

"It’s not just about the players you sign. Good players can easily go off the boil if they’re not being led, they need to be led on the pitch.

"Very, very rarely it is all about the players that make a difference. If you have the right manager you’re going to perform for him.

"You need to get a squad of 20 fantastic players all rowing in the same direction so that the club they’re performing for has success and they are part of that history.