Manchester United 'target Ajax's Erik ten Hag for next permanent boss'

New Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold is reportedly set to defy players' wish to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as the club's next permanent manager by pursuing Erik ten Hag instead.

Pochettino and ten Hag have long been identified as the two main candidates to take over at Old Trafford next season, once Ralf Rangnick's reign as interim manager ends.

The German replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November and is expected to be in charge until the end of the season, before moving to a consultancy role for the next two years.

Rangnick has championed ten Hag to Arnold and, according to The Sun, the latter is increasingly convinced the Ajax manager is the right man to restore United to the top of English football.

Arnold's pursuit of ten Hag, however, could cause friction at United after Sportsmail revealed earlier this week several first-team players have indicated they would prefer Pochettino instead.

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