Incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has insisted there are “no agreements” in place to bring any of his Ajax players with him to Old Trafford when he takes charge at end of the season.
The 52-year-old was announced as the Red Devils next permanent manager on a three-year contract with an option for a further year on April 22 to end months of speculation and searching by United chiefs. The Dutchman will link up with his new club when the season is over and is expected to oversee a huge revamp of the squad this summer, aided by football consultant Ralf Rangnick.
Interim boss Rangnick, who will combine his role with working as Austria's new manager, has made no attempt to hide the fact there will be significant changes to the squad this summer, with the German suggesting up to 10 players could arrive. And it had been reported Ten Hag was keen on bringing some of his Ajax stars to the Premier League as part of his move, with centre-back Jurrien Timber one of those linked.
However, the Ajax head coach revealed that he has not discussed any deals yet and is purely focusing on the Dutch giants’ title race. “No, there are no agreements about that,” he said, when asked about the matter at his press conference on Friday. “I now have very good players, but it’s not an issue at all.”
Ajax lead PSV Eindhoven by four points with three games remaining and Ten Hag can clinch his third title if they beat AZ Alkmaar and their rivals lose away to Feyenoord. Man United’s new coach will be keen to leave on a high note after losing out to PSV in the KNVB Cup and has parked all of his future duties with United for the time being.
Ten Hag has privately already decided what to do with Cristiano Ronaldo, with the 37-year-old reportedly facing an uncertain future when he arrives. United can no longer finish in the top four and the absence of Champions League football for next season may encourage the Portuguese superstar to search for another club.
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But when asked about the subject of Ronaldo’s future, the coach again dodged making any definitive comment, adding: “Those are questions for the future. We are in an important title race and an important week. I now want to focus my attention on that and not on Manchester United.”
While Ten Hag refused to be drawn on any specific names, it is understood United are pressing ahead with their plans to sign players ahead of the summer transfer window. That is likely to include Timber, 20, who is a full Netherlands international and regular for his club, and Ajax’s Brazilian winger Antony, who has been linked with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The club have already made contact over Reims starlet Hugo Ekitike, who was wanted by Newcastle United in January before the 19-year-old turned down the move.
Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba are all out of contract in the summer and look set to depart, meaning new faces are poised to arrive in a major summer overhaul at the club. Other players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Marcus Rashford, Eric Bailly, Anthony Martial and Dean Henderson could also be sold to fund new signings.
