United have been tracking ten Hag since his time at Utrecht

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The noise around Erik ten Hag and Manchester United has ramped up in recent days as the managerial search gets truly underway.

Ten Hag has reportedly told Ajax he wants to leave at the end of the season and has his heart set on taking over at Old Trafford.

The Ajax boss has insisted he is just focused on his own club until the end of the season and he guided his team to the Dutch Cup final last night.

They beat AZ Alkmaar 2-0 courtesy of a goal in each half from Steven Berghuis and Davy Klaassen, while the Champions League represents United’s final hope of going another season without a trophy.

Of course, the speculation linking him with United is as rife as it has ever been, and United have previously gone for older, bigger name managers in the shape of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

But ESPN report that United have been tracking ten Hag as far back as his time with Utrecht, who he managed before joining Ajax.

He was there from the summer of 2015 until December 2017, when he moved to Ajax.

That means that United have been tracking him for at least four years, likely more, and it could be as many as seven if he does actually come in this summer.

It would be promising if United had had eyes on ten Hag for an extended period of time, rather than the powers that be turning to him now because Ajax are catching the eye in the Champions League again.

There is plenty to like about ten Hag; his sides play attractive football, he gives young players a chance and he is capable of implementing a clear philosophy.

There are two major question marks. The first is whether he can do it in one of the major leagues in Europe at a club the size of United.

The second is whether his approach would be so successful with United’s muddled off-field structure behind him, as opposed to the clarity of thought which underpins the entire club at Ajax.