Manchester City reportedly want Erik ten Hag as their successor to Pep Guardiola, and will join Manchester United in the hunt for the Ajax boss.
Ten Hag has won two Eredivisie titles, two Dutch cups and one Dutch super cup in his four years in Amsterdam, and recently revealed that he is ready to move abroad to take on the challenge of managing a top foreign club.
Ten Hag told de Volkskrant: “I think I’m ready for it [coaching abroad]. I would be happy to take up that challenge.
“But I’m not chasing it. If it turns out that that step will never come, I will not say that my coaching career has failed.
“But I think I have sufficient competencies to take on that challenge.”
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Ten Hag is one of the possible candidates to take on the permanent role at Old Trafford after Ralf Rangnick’s interim role comes to an end.
On Ten Hag’s links with United, Ajax chief Edwin van der Sar told RTL 7: “This means that we are doing something well. It’s the same with the players. When we perform well, the interest comes.
“If there is interest in our players or coach… we’ve all been blown away in the past. So be it, we have to make sure we’re ready by then, that the lists are filled in.”
But De Telegraaf (via TEAMtalk) have thrown a spanner in the works by suggesting City want Ten Hag to succeed Guardiola at the Etihad.
Guardiola’s current deal expires in the summer of 2023 and he looks set to leave the club with his eyes on a national team job.
Either job would be a big step up for Ten Hag and amid the links to United, former Ajax star Ronald De Boer said the 51-year-old would be “crazy” to turn it down, but also claimed a move to Germany might be a better fit.
“He would be crazy if he didn’t do it. But it is not the best next step for him. It is best if he can go to Germany.
“He has gained experience at Bayern Munich and speaks the language fluently,” De Boer said.
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