Erik Ten Hag Contacted By European Giants Amid Man Utd Uncertainty
Reportedly, representatives of Erik ten Hag have been approached by a top European club amid uncertainties about the Dutchman’s future at Manchester United. Despite having one year remaining on his contract with the Red Devils, there are indications that he might depart before completing the final 12 months of his deal.
Ten Hag’s inaugural season was notably successful, guiding Manchester United to victory in the EFL Cup and a commendable third-place finish in the Premier League, securing their return to Champions League competition.
However, their European campaign ended prematurely in the group stage, and their league performance has been subpar, ruling them out of contention for the revamped 2024-25 Champions League.
With only four matches remaining, Manchester United, currently in seventh place, can at best secure a berth in the Europa League. They could also achieve this if they defeat Manchester City in the upcoming FA Cup final later this month.
Bayern Munich has reportedly made initial contact with Erik ten Hag’s representatives, amidst speculation surrounding his future at Manchester United. The club’s struggles both domestically and in European competitions have fueled rumors that he could face dismissal under the new ownership led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired a 27.7% stake in the club in December.
As of yet, Ratcliffe has not publicly endorsed Ten Hag, leading to speculation that the Dutchman may consider resigning if assurances are not provided by Ratcliffe’s team.
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich, whose current manager Thomas Tuchel is set to depart at the end of the season, have reached out to Ten Hag’s representatives to explore his interest in a move to Germany. However, direct contact with Ten Hag himself has not been made, as he remains focused on Manchester United’s end-of-season campaign and intends to honor his contract at Old Trafford.
Nevertheless, reports suggest that the 54-year-old would be open to the Bayern Munich position should his situation at Manchester United become untenable. Additionally, two other undisclosed teams have reportedly included Ten Hag on their shortlists for managerial appointments.
Could we see a swap between Tuchel and Ten Hag in opposite directions?
🚨🆕 News Ten Hag: After the rejection of Rangnick he’s back on the list of FC Bayern!
➡️ There were talks between Bayern and Ten Hag‘s management in the last weeks. No direct talks with Ten Hag yet.
His future at ManUtd is still uncertain. He would like to fulfill his… pic.twitter.com/p0cL5A7kmP
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 5, 2024
Bayern’s revived interest in Ten Hag follows their unsuccessful attempt to entice former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick to Bavaria. Rangnick, now the head coach of Austria, turned down Bayern’s offer, leaving the FC Hollywood board surprised and prompting them to explore other options to succeed Tuchel, who is expected to depart as planned.
Tuchel’s anticipated departure has led to speculation about potential replacements. While Rangnick’s rejection was unexpected, options such as former Chelsea manager, who is reportedly one of Ratcliffe’s preferred choices, remain under consideration. Interestingly, there are indications that the former Chelsea boss may be open to joining Manchester United this summer.
Other candidates reportedly on Ratcliffe’s radar include England manager Gareth Southgate and the currently unattached Graham Potter. However, pursuing former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane may prove overly ambitious.
Ten Hag has enjoyed relative success during his tenure at Manchester United, winning 65 out of 109 games in charge. As the club continues to vie for Europa League qualification, they face Crystal Palace on Monday night.
