Manchester United have done the right thing with Erik ten Hag's contract

An agent who has dealt with Manchester United messaged earlier this week: "Everything must change for everything to remain the same."

Erik ten Hag's situation remains unchanged. He is on the same contract he signed to take over as United manager in April 2022.

Initially, United were unable to confirm whether they had triggered the one-year extension in Ten Hag's contract or just extended his contract. Eventually, a source clarified the one-year option had been exercised.

That is a crucial difference. Whatever Ten Hag's requests or demands under the new co-owner, they are not contractual.

When Ten Hag spoke to Dutch broadcaster NOS last month, he said: "We had a good talk and various topics were discussed and the conclusion was that we will continue with each other but also the conclusion is that we are going to sit down to renew the contract."

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The interviewer replied: "Okay, so the air is cleared and you go because you have another year's contract and you're going to renew now?"

"Well of course, we absolutely have to come to some sort of agreement," Ten Hag replied. An agreement was technically unnecessary.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos cohorts were caught between a rock and a hard place. Offer Ten Hag a longer contract and they appear weak, having intended to sack him until the FA Cup final. Take up the one-year option and it is hardly a ringing endorsement.

But it is also sensible. Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were sacked in the same year they signed completely new contracts. United have moved on from Ed Woodward's gullible ways.

It still feels like an uneasy alliance and effectively extends Ten Hag's trial