Erik ten Hag has reportedly already won his first Manchester United power struggle after convincing top brass of his acumen in the transfer market.
The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford earlier this year, inheriting a team bereft of confidence and coming off their worst ever Premier League season. First Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and then Ralf Rangnick failed to get a tune out of their richly-assembled and disjointed playing staff.
Ten Hag insisted that control over recruitment was a key factor when determining whether to swap Ajax for United, having enjoyed consistent success in Amsterdam. “I set requirements in advance about how I want to work. If they aren’t granted, I won’t. I am ultimately responsible and accounted for the results,” he said shortly after his appointment.
But that control looked as if it may be put to the test with Rangnick expected to remain at the club in a recruitment consultant role. The German has earned a reputation as a shrewd talent evaluator over his decades in the game and the plan was that he would help the new manager enjoy a smoother transition.
However, that plan was thrown into chaos when Rangnick - after accepting a position as Austria’s national team coach - confirmed he would no longer be honouring their pre-agreed arrangement. Rangnick’s ill-fated reign as United interim boss ended on the final day of last season, when Ten Hag watched on as his charges were beaten by Palace.
The departing coach had spoken in damning terms about the scale of the rebuild required at United, insisting as many as 10 players would need to be signed before they could truly compete again.
And although he opted to not stay in a formal capacity, Rangnick did extend the courtesy of a phone conversation with Ten Hag shortly before the latter took control. Manchester Evening News report that the two had a lengthy chat, with Rangnick offering up a list of viable targets.
That shortlist is said to have included the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Christopher Nkunku and Konrad Laimer - all of whom he knew through his association with RB Leipzig. Ten Hag opted to go in a different direction however, instead signing players he had seen close up.
Antony and Lisandro Martinez both arrived off the back of title-winning seasons with Ajax, while Tyrell Malacia was an impressive Eredivisie performer with Feyenoord.
The MEN claim that Rangnick would not have endorsed moves for players from Eredivisie, a reluctance shared behind the scenes at Old Trafford. For example, before signing Martinez for £55m, it is understood the club’s in-house recruitment team pushed for Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres. Ten Hag would eventually win out and the Argentine has quickly proven why his manager went to bat with him.
After bringing in three players from the Dutch flight, Ten Hag has understandably faced some questions over the tactic, responding that it is a market which enables them to buy seasoned internationals at a lower premium than their English counterparts.
"I would like to sign English players because I think there is only one criteria and that's quality in combination with the price," Ten Hag explained. "It looks like English players are quite expensive. It's a fact you cannot deny. In the end, it's about quality."
He added: “The players we signed are internationals for their countries. Secondly, they performed really well in the Champions League. And third, when I look at individual skills they are capable of playing high intensity football."
And Forbes now report that the early return on United’s investment in the Dutch market has convinced some of his more vocal doubters. In fact, such has been the early success, it is claimed that they will now be open to going back to the Netherlands in later windows - with PSV’s Cody Gakpo the next target on his wish list.
