Erik ten Hag wants his proposed contract extension with Manchester United to be resolved before the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Ineos board members decided to keep Ten Hag as manager after a 17-day end-of-season review, despite the club sounding out potential replacements.
Ten Hag said on Dutch television station NOS: “Manchester United and I still have to find an agreement for the new contract, [which] isn’t easily done, we are still going to have to talk about this”.
United sources concede there is still an element of uncertainty over Ten Hag’s future while they thrash out terms over a renewal amid Ineos’s plans to tweak his role.
Ineos want to change Ten Hag’s title from manager to head coach and he is not expected to wield as much influence over United’s transfer strategy after two variable summer windows.
READ MORE: Three games convinced United to keep Ten Hag
READ MORE: Ten Hag has seven players to build a formidable team around
Although there is genuine goodwill between Ten Hag and the new power brokers, there is also a recognition both parties have to be fully aligned heading into next season and there may have to be compromises during negotiations.
United depart for their three-game tour on July 24 but commence their pre-season schedule against Rosenborg in Trondheim on July 15.
“The club management came to me while I was on holiday in Ibiza,” Ten Hag said. “They suddenly showed up on my doorstep and told me they wanted to continue with me.
“They have indeed told me that they have spoken to other managers. That is not even allowed in the Netherlands. Then it is forbidden to talk to other coaches if there is still a trainer. In the end they came to the conclusion that they already had the best trainer in house.
“We have had good discussions with each other, various topics have been discussed. The conclusion is that we will continue together and that they will extend my contract. We still have to reach an agreement on that.”
After communicating their decision to retain Ten Hag, United submitted a £43million bid for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, which was rejected.
Everton are holding out for a fee between £70m and £80m, citing the £80m United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019. United believe that is unrealistic in the current market.
Branthwaite, 21, attained his first England cap in the friendly victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this month but he was omitted from manager Gareth Southgate’s European Championship squad.
Although the Maguire deal was negotiated five years ago, Chelsea paid £75m for centre back Wesley Fofana in 2022 and Manchester City parted with £77.6m to recruit Josko Gvardiol last year.
United want two new centre halves as Raphael Varane has left and Victor Lindelof, out of contract next year, is for sale. The chances of Jonny Evans, 36, agreeing a new short-term deal have increased with Ten Hag staying on.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25505687/VERNE_Exterior1.jpg)
