Manchester United are reportedly set for a collision course with Erik ten Hag, despite the Red Devils committing to their Dutch head coach after months of speculation. Plans are in motion not only to build for the future with the 54-year-old, but also to enter negotiations on a new contract extension.
However, those talks are likely to feature a major sticking point in the boss’ role in United’s recruitment moving forward according to the Daily Mirror. The past two years’ record does not reflect well on Ten Hag and the previous regime, with big-money signings such as Casemiro, Antony and Mason Mount struggling to make the desired impact.
INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have already moved to install Jason Wilcox as sporting director and Omar Berrada as CEO. They also hope to bring Dan Ashworth in from Newcastle as sporting director, but have been unable to breach the gap in proposed fees with the Magpies.
The new decision-makers will hope to remove the responsibility of recruitment from Ten Hag and spread it across their new additions, but the Dutchman has on several occasions insisted that a requirement of his presence at a club is a significant say on the comings and goings.
“I set requirements in advance about how I want to work,” he told Dutch outlet Trouw in April 2022 before his United unveiling. “If they aren’t granted, I won’t do it. I am ultimately responsible and accounted for the results. I don’t want to be the sole ruler, I stand for cooperation, but control in transfers is a condition for me.”
He then doubled down on that same viewpoint in February of this year, explaining: “It’s control. And I have had the talks with them (INEOS) about it. They will not bring in players who the manager doesn’t want, because that will not work. We will work there together, with suggestions, bringing players in and discussing.
“Then it is about picking the right players, it is about cooperation and togetherness. That is the way they want to work.”
All parties are now publicly on the same page, following a lengthy end-of-season review that culminated in Ten Hag being given a show of faith, with INEOS’ backing and the promise of contract extension talks on the horizon.
But should Ten Hag and United chiefs remain headstrong about where the buck should stop regarding transfers, tensions could arise after the boss had already been privately critical over a lack of support from Ratcliffe since his minority share purchase was ratified in February.
Ten Hag and INEOS appear to have turned a corner with an exciting prospect of working together as part of a long-term plan, but that threatens to be shattered if all involved cannot agree on the head coach’s role in recruitment.
