Erik ten Hag is on the brink of becoming Manchester United's next permanent manager.
The Dutchman, who took charge of Ajax back in December 2017, was interviewed for the Old Trafford vacancy last month and has been installed as the favourite for the job ever since. It is widely reported that Ten Hag is close to signing his contract, whilst United look to complete the formalities with Ajax.
As revealed by the Manchester Evening News last month, Ten Hag is United's preferred candidate to take over the reins at Old Trafford, despite ongoing links with Mauricio Pochettino. Ten Hag has proven to be a popular choice amongst the supporters in recent months, dating back to when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November.
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Should all go to plan and Ten Hag is installed as Ralf Rangnick's successor, the Dutchman will be tasked with the challenge of trying to bring the good times back to Old Trafford. However, a strict level of patience will be required.
There is no quick-fix to United's current troubles and the impending appointment of Ten Hag does suggest that the club is prepared to back him with a long-term strategy. And for former Reds skipper Gary Neville, a long-term project is exactly what United are in need of.
Following last month's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Neville outlined why it was important that United implemented a long-term plan. He also explained why he thought United would favour Ten Hag over Pochettino.
"Manchester United need a longer term approach for a manager, they're not going to appoint a short-term manager like they did with Jose [Mourinho]," Neville told Sky Sports. "They went against the grain with that and won't do it again.
"They want to appoint Ten Hag or Pochettino, a young, up and coming manager for the long-term. They can't put all their eggs in one basket.
"I suspect they're favouring Ten Hag for what they want moving forward, but they won't appoint Rangnick - he was only ever coming in for five months, gathering information around the structure of the club, the people at the club and at the end of the season he'll hand over his report and move into a consultancy role next season, with the club either taking his advice or not. I think a lot of things he'll have to say about the players in that dressing room won't be favourable.
"They've got a real risk with Pochettino. Paris Saint-Germain could let him go if they get knocked out of the Champions League, but if they go and win it then it's harder for United to go and get him because PSG don't need the money, they'll just hold onto him."
As Ten Hag moves closer and closer towards taking over at United, Neville was right. United settled on the Dutchman as their preferred option last month, with it felt that he can replicate his success at Ajax with the right structure and policies in place.
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