Ajax chief Edwin van der Sar has welcomed Manchester United’s interest in Erik ten Hag and claims it shows the club and the manager are ‘doing something well’.
United appointed experienced Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis until the end of the campaign while they conduct a thorough search for a new permanent manager.
Ten Hag and Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino are believed to be the leading contenders to take over in the summer, though neither of the coaches were available now.
Both managers are top of their respective leagues in the Eredivisie and Ligue 1, also sealing their progress to the next stage of the Champions League, and were not willing to leave their current teams in the middle of the campaign.
But the duo would welcome the chance to take over the reins at United in the summer, at which point Rangnick will move into a consultancy role at the club.
Asked about the speculation linking Ten Hag with a move to Old Trafford in the future, former United goalkeeper Van der Sar told RTL 7: ‘This means that we are doing something well.
‘It’s the same with the players. When we perform well, the interest comes. ‘If there is interest in our players or coach… we’ve all been blown away in the past. So be it, we have to make sure we’re ready by then, that the lists are filled in.’
Ten Hag was wanted by Spurs earlier this year but elected to sign a contract extension to remain in Amsterdam until 2023, though that means he will have only one year left on his deal in the summer and will not be expensive to prise away from Ajax.
Meanwhile, Dusan Tadic was full of praise for his manager and believes Ten Hag deserves to take over the reins at a European giant – though hopes he remains at the club for a little while longer.
‘Everyone at Ajax was pleased he stayed. I hope he stays at Ajax for many more years,’ he told The Telegraph.
‘He is very smart, though. He knows the top clubs in Europe are looking at him. He has taken his time despite offers because they were not the right club to leave Ajax for. He does not have to rush, he can wait.
‘He will choose his next club wisely. We shall see where he ends up but it will not be any surprise if he goes to one of the biggest. I hope he stays here, but of course others will want him because of what has done for Ajax.’
