Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd contract ‘complicated’ as two parties argue over details after end-of-season review

ERIK TEN HAG’s contract extension with Manchester United will not be a simple process, according to reports.

United committed to keeping the Dutchman following an in-depth review at the end of the season after the Red Devils beat Manchester City in the FA Cup.

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A record eighth-place finish seemed to leave Ten Hag’s role in jeopardy, but he will have 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 club officials admitted they had interviewed Thomas Tuchel for their job.

Although Ten Hag’s role is secure, there is only one year left on his current contract.

As such, United are hoping to reach an agreement with Ten Hag before the start of their pre-season tour of the United States.

But the negotiations are “complicated”, according to ESPN.

However, talks between the club and the 54-year-old have “progressed well”.

It is unlikely that further additions to the coaching staff will be made until a new contract is signed.

Ten Hag already have Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag on their team, as well as Darren Fletcher, who was technical director until Ratcliffe’s appointment of Jason Wilcox.

Erik ten Hag is no safer now than he was before the FA Cup victory

By Neil Custis

After Manchester United announced that Erik ten Hag would remain, they tried to explain why it took more than two weeks since the Dutchman paraded in the FA Cup at Wembley to actually tell him he still had the job.

A complete review of the season was required, although Ten Hag said before the Cup final that this had been done.

The club said it had “considered all eventualities”.

In other words, ‘which coach would be best for us, and not necessarily the guy we have?’.

And the club also took pains to make clear how much it admired Ten Hag’s “dedication, dignity and professionalism”.

In other words, he didn’t publicly criticize the appalling way he was being treated, despite asking Ratcliffe for a public vote of confidence months before the season finale.

Let us remember that Ratcliffe didn’t even mention Ten Hag in his ‘congratulations message’ after the FA Cup victory, despite the fact that it all depended on him and the way he outperformed Pep Guardiola that day.

Read Neil Custis’ full column on Manchester United.

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The former Ajax manager is expected to have less influence on transfers as a new era under Sir Jim Ratcliffe begins.

The INEOS CEO wants Ten Hag’s focus to be on coaching and team preparation and away from transfer decisions.

Ratcliffe owns 27.7% of United and has been tasked with looking after all of the club’s football operations.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who stepped down as head of PSV Eindhoven in 2023, is being considered for a role in Ten Hag’s squad.

Meanwhile, the announcement that Ten Hag will remain in control has reinvigorated Marcus Rashford.

A source said Rashford was pleased Ten Hag was staying at Old Trafford – despite the pair barely speaking to each other at times during a difficult campaign.

The source said: “Marcus knows one thing about Ten Hag: he really sizes him up.

He knows he’s underperforming, but he’s been telling his friends he’ll come back strong next season.”

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