Erik ten Hag has been told there's no better time than the present to join Manchester United as he continues to be linked with the Premier League club.
The Ajax manager is still the leading candidate to take over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick when the German moves into a consultancy role, though his pursuit of a league and cup double with Ajax means no announcement on his future is expected until after Sunday's KNVB Cup final. Ten Hag is understood to still be weighing up a number of options, with RB Leipzig interested in addition to United.
With United's European qualification hopes hanging by a thread after Saturday's defeat at Everton, the 52-year-old could even opt to stay in Amsterdam. However, former Dutch international midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has told his compatriot now would be the perfect time to take over at Old Trafford.
"I would definitely go, if he can bend it to his will," Afellay told Studio Voetbal (via the Manchester Evening News ). "If you are to believe the reports, he has certain requirements and that is only a good thing."
Afellay, who was part of the Dutch squad who reached the 2010 World Cup final, spent four years in England with Stoke City after being signed by former Man Utd striker Mark Hughes during the Welshman's time in charge. The ex-PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona star retired in 2021, and has advised Ten Hag that, as long as his demands are met, he should join the English club.
"There is no better time to get in," the 35-year-old continued. "It looks like they are not going to qualify for the Champions League."
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United sit six points behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur with seven Premier League games remaining, and are already mathematically unable to match their 74-point tally from last season. Failure to finish in the top four might impact the quality of signing available to the new manager, but it would also remove the pressure of another season in Europe's top club competition.
They also have to play three of the six teams above them before the end of the season: away games against Liverpool and Arsenal could go some way to determining the fate of Rangnick's side, while they are also due to host Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 15.
Ajax's situation is drastically different, despite them and United both dropping out of the Champions League in the round of 16. Ten Hag's team have a four-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie table with five games remaining, and are due to face nearest challengers PSV in the domestic cup final.
