ERIK TEN HAG’S Manchester United contract extension won’t be a straightforward process, according to reports.
United committed to keeping the Dutchman following an in depth end-of-season review after the Red Devils beat Manchester City to the FA Cup.
A record low eighth place finish had appeared to leave Ten Hag’s role in jeopardy, but he will be given time to turn things around at Old Trafford.
The 54-year-old was shocked to be visited while on holiday in Ibiza and even more surprised when the club officials admitted that they had interviewed Thomas Tuchel for his job.
While Ten Hag’s role is safe, it remains the case that only one year remains on his current contract.
As such United are hoping to reach an agreement with Ten Hag before the start of their preseason tour of the United States.
But negotiations are “complicated”, according to ESPN.
Yet conversations between the club and the 54-year-old have “progressed well”.
It is unlikely further additions to the coaching staff will be made until a new contract is signed.
Ten Hag already has Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag on his staff, as well as Darren Fletcher, who was technical director until Ratcliffe’s appointment of Jason Wilcox.
By Neil Custis
After Manchester United announced Erik ten Hag was staying on, they tried to explain why it has taken over two weeks since the Dutchman paraded the FA Cup at Wembley to actually tell him he still had the job.
A thorough review of the season was needed even though Ten Hag said before the Cup final that this had been done.
The club said that they had ‘considered all eventualities’.
In other words ‘which manager would be best for us, and not necessarily the bloke we have got?’.
And the club were also at pains to make it clear how much they admired Ten Hag’s ‘dedication, dignity and professionalism’.
In other words he did not publicly flip his lid at the appalling way he was being treated despite asking Ratcliffe for a public vote of confidence months before the end of the season.
Let us remember Ratcliffe did not even namecheck Ten Hag in his ‘congratulations message’ after the FA Cup was won, despite the fact it was all down to him and the way he outthought Pep Guardiola on the day.
Read the full column from Neil Custis on Manchester United.
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The former Ajax boss is expected to have less of a say in transfers as a new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe gets underway.
The INEOS CEO is keen for Ten Hag’s focus to be centred on coaching and preparing the team and away from transfer decisions.
Ratcliffe owns 27.7 per cent of United and has been tasked with looking after all football operations at the club.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who left his role in charge of PSV Eindhoven in 2023, is under consideration for a job within Ten Hag’s staff.
Meanwhile the announcement that Ten Hag will remain in control has reinvigorated Marcus Rashford.
A source said that Rashford was pleased Ten Hag was staying at Old Trafford – despite the pair barely being on speaking terms at times during a difficult campaign.
The source said: “Marcus knows one thing with Ten Hag and that is that he really rates him.
He knows he’s underperformed big time but has been telling his friends that he’s coming back strong this next season.”
