Ralf Rangnick breaks silence on Erik ten Hag becoming Manchester United manager

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has labelled Ajax manager Erik ten Hag as one of the "top coaches" in Europe — but insisted no names have yet been discussed by the club as they seek their next permanent manager.

The Dutchman and Mauricio Pochettino are among the candidates to become the long-term successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Rangnick is due to see out his time as temporary boss until the end of the season before undertaking a consultancy role at the club from July 1.

Reports have ramped up this week surrounding Ten Hag and the soon-to-be-vacant managerial position at Old Trafford. But Rangnick, who admires Ten Hag and his work at Ajax, has poured cold water on the links with the 52-year-old, for now.

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He told Sky Sports: "So far we haven't at all spoken about that, nobody, not just [United football director] John Murtough but nobody else, we haven't had that topic in the last weeks and months since I'm here. I know my opinion [of who should take the job] but so far we haven't spoken about it so this is what I can tell you.

"I don't know him, to start with, as a person. Obviously, I see the development at Ajax since he's been there, I know a little bit about his work when he was with Bayern Munich and that he is one of the top coaches in Europe that's obvious but there are a few other top coaches.

"As I said, we haven't spoken about any new manager so far, therefore we also didn't speak about him," he concluded.

Ten Hag himself hasn't quelled the speculation in a recent interview, though he remains a top contender for the role, along with PSG boss Pochettino.

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