Ten Hag wins first fight as board caves in over McClaren’s return

Erik ten Hag is expected to win his battle with Manchester United for his choice of number 2 by appointing former colleague Steve McClaren as assistant manager as the club prepare to accelerate their transfer plans ahead of a big rebuilding summer.

nited yesterday announced Ten Hag as its fifth permanent manager in nine years on a three-year contract worth around €10.8m annually until June 2025.

The deal includes an option for a further 12 months. United had initially pushed back on Ten Hag’s request to bring in former England manager McClaren in the days ahead of the 52-year-old Dutchman’s official appointment as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s long-term successor.

Instead, United have asked Ten Hag to first look at the existing staff before making any major decisions.

However, it is now understood that McClaren – who was Alex Ferguson’s No 2 when United won a historic treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles in 1999 – will join Mitchell van der Gaag as one of two new assistants is appointed. Ten Hag’s current assistant at Ajax.

Ten Hag are reported to have discussed possible transfer targets during talks with the club in recent weeks and United now feel in a position to intensify their signing search.

United prioritize recruiting two midfielders and a striker, although they are also looking for wingers and centre-backs, and the club are under enormous pressure to perform, having squandered more than £1bn (€1.2bn) over the past decade .

Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips, Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni, RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku, Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, Wolves’ Ruben Neves and Aston Villa’s John McGinn are some of the midfielders scouted. Phillips’ strong ties with Leeds are seen as a hindrance to a potential move to Old Trafford. (© Telegraph Media Group Ltd, 2022)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]