Erik ten Hag has emerged as the 'clear favourite' for the vacant Manchester United job after he reportedly completed an interview with the Old Trafford hierarchy earlier this week.
The Ajax chief has been one of the frontrunners for the United job, along with Mauricio Pochettino, ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was axed back in November. But the Dutchman has seemingly nudged ahead of the former Tottenham man in recent weeks as the process draws closer to a conclusion.
And according to The Daily Mail, Ten Hag spoke to the club on Monday and is now in pole position to land the top job. The report outlines that there is now an 'expectation' at Ajax that their coveted coach will be prised away from Amsterdam in the summer after a year of persistent speculation linking Ten Hag with a move to the Premier League.
The 52-year-old was interviewed for the Tottenham job after Jose Mourinho was sacked, while Newcastle made an unsuccessful attempt to lure the Ajax chief to Tyneside after their Saudi-backed takeover was given the green light late last year.
But there's a chance that Ten Hag will now make the jump to the Premier League after speaking with United - although other names such as Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui are still in the frame for the role. The process, which is being led by director of football John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher, has advanced to the next stage after an initial research period was finally completed last month.
While Ten Hag has been spoken to about the role, there is a growing acceptance at the club that Thomas Tuchel is currently unobtainable. The Chelsea chief had emerged as a surprise candidate for the job amid the takeover turmoil that has engulfed the Londoners in recent weeks.
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However, Tuchel no longer appears to be a viable option for United - who are determined to wrap up the process as promptly as possible. Pursuing a move for Tuchel is unlikely to work given those parameters.
That could clear the path for Ten Hag - despite previous reports suggesting that United's players would prefer Pochettino to be appointed. Indeed, the same report outlines that there is a 'growing suspicion' in the 50-year-old's camp that the job is now Ten Hag's to lose.
United would have to shell out a compensation fee of around £4million if they do plump for the former FC Utrecht man, who admitted last year that he was "ready" to coach overseas.
Ten Hag has forged a reputation as one of Europe's most exciting coaches during his five years at the helm in Amsterdam, where he has established an exciting brand of attacking, possession-based football.
During his time in Holland, Ten Hag has won five trophies in four years with Ajax, including two domestic titles. The Dutch giants are currently in pole position to claim their third Eredivisie triumph under Ten Hag this season, too.
Ajax's lead at the top of the table is slender, but they have one of the leanest defensive records in Europe, shipping just 13 goals in 27 league matches - a record that shouldn't be overlooked given how drastically United's defence has declined this year.
