Van de Vaart says Ten Hag should take United job if it is offered

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Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag is one of the names being mentioned in connection with the vacant Manchester United job.

The style of football the Dutch outfit play is appealing after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign ended without a philosophy being implemented.

United’s intention to hire an interim manager before a longer term appointment in the summer hints that they know they may have to wait to get the right man.

But former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart thinks Ten Hag, 51, could not say no to United if he was asked to join them now.

Van der Vaart said on NOS Studio Voetbal: “You’re not going to say no to that, are you? If Manchester United wants you, then you go.”

He did raise concerns over Ten Hag’s English, adding: “You have to be able to make your point. I don’t know if he can do that in English. I think it needs to be refined.”

Fellow pundit Arno Vermeulen played down the chances of Ten Hag making the move, saying: “I honestly think that the chance is not very great.

“He will not leave in a year that Ajax is already certain of the knockout phase of the Champions League. I think they want an interim solution there.

“I have the feeling that he can go much better to Germany. I would like to see him at Bayern Munch someday. I think he would fit very well there as a coach.”

It would be a surprise if Ten Hag left Ajax mid-season, with their campaign going so well.

But as van der Vaart said, if United made it clear that he is the man they want to lead them into a new era, could he say no?

As Vermeulen said, United have already outlined their intention to find an interim manager, but surely those plans would change if the right man was willing to move mid-season.

As it stands, it appears Mauricio Pochettino is the leading contender to succeed Solskjaer and there are growing reports that he is willing to leave Paris Saint-Germain now.

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