Recruitment change, new deal plus Manchester United insight - national verdict on major Erik ten Hag news

Erik ten Hag will remain as Manchester United boss - with the club once again in the national spotlight.

United have made the decision to stick with Ten Hag following their extensive end-of-season review. Club sources confirmed that after a thorough performance review of the 2023/24 season and broader first team operation the ‘clear conclusion’ was that Ten Hag should remain as the first-team manager.

ManchesterWorld have also been told that United have entered negotiations on a contract extension, which could even see the manager’s role changed to that of a head coach as part of the ongoing restructure of the club’s hierarchy. Ten Hag is currently the first-team manager but could change role so that his focus is solely on coaching the players, rather than delving into transfer issues and wider club politics.

Here’s what the national press are saying:

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol: "If Manchester United are exploring all their other options, that means they would have been exploring other managers. There have been reports in Germany and reports in the UK.

"Sir Jim Ratcliffe was meeting Thomas Tuchel, the former Chelsea manager, and that he turned down the United job according to reports in Germany.

"Mauricio Pochettino has been distancing himself from the job, while we know they've been looking at Gareth Southgate while both Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna were linked with the job.

"All these managers, if they were to go to a club like United, they know the structure has to be right for them to take it on. They have to know who is in charge, who they're answering to. They need certainty.

"A lot of things at the moment at United are in flux. Ten Hag's situation still needs to be sorted out. We now know he is staying, but we still need certainty over his contract.”

Simon Stone, BBC chief football news reporter: “All eventualities were considered and the clear preference was for the 54-year-old Dutchman to remain in charge. Ten Hag is known to be delighted at the outcome, though there were suggestions he was getting irritated at the time taken for United to reach it.

“United do not believe two weeks is an unreasonable length of time to conduct a thorough assessment of what is the first season under a change of ownership.”

The Guardian: “The decision signals a reverse in the assessment of Ten Hag’s likely future. Ratcliffe and his advisers were previously minded to remove him, yet a number of factors ultimately persuaded them Ten Hag should remain.

“Ratcliffe and his colleagues were impressed by last month’s 2-1 FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City which made it two trophies in Ten Hag’s two years in charge; the 54-year-old establishing Garnacho and Mainoo, who are 19, as first-team regulars; and the manager’s dedication. There is also recognition that André Onana and Mason Mount, who were signed last summer, are yet to fully settle.”

The Sun: “United are now set to open talks with Ten Hag over a new contract. While he has also agreed to take a back seat when it comes to recruitment with Ineos chiefs said to be "left horrified" by the power he had in that department, report The Telegraph.

“Ten Hag has had a big influence on transfers since joining the club, identifying the likes of Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and Sofyan Amrabat.”