With Ajax’s latest Eredivisie title sealed, Erik ten Hag has wasted little time in beginning the forward planning that will allow him to hit the ground running at Manchester United.
The Dutch coach called a meeting in Amsterdam for Thursday to get down to business and, as Sportsmail reported, Steve McClaren was summoned to Holland for the talks.
It is now expected that Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant will be a part of Ten Hag’s backroom team at Old Trafford next season.
Erik ten Hag held his first meeting as Man United boss as he discussed strategy in Amsterdam
Steve McClaren, who is set to become his assistant boss, was also summoned to the meeting
Ten Hag signed his Ajax career off with a trophy after delivering his side the Eredivisie title
And no doubt the agenda for the Amsterdam summit included a discussion of potential transfer targets with United so clearly under-powered in several departments.
It’s been a dreadful season at Old Trafford, with United on course for their lowest Premier League points tally and a fifth season without any silverware.
We take a closer look at who Ten Hag and his prospective backroom team may have discussing and what they could offer the team.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
This has been a problem position for United for several years now and their lack of physicality and bite in defensive midfield is increasingly exposed in the big games.
With Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic departing in the summer, there will be an urgent need to address this with at least one – and ideally two – midfield signings.
So it’s little surprise to see United linked with a player Ten Hag knows very well from Ajax – Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona.
Barcelona’s financial problems are well documented and it’s believed they may be tempted to sell De Jong – a £75million buy in 2019 – two years before the expiration of his contract.
Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong has emerged as a midfield option for Man United in the summer
It will be difficult for United,…