Gerry Hamstra, Ajax’s technical director, has confessed that the club tried “everything” possible to persuade Erik ten Hag to reject Manchester United’s approach.
The Dutchman is expected to take over at Old Trafford in 2022-23 after agreeing to a four-year agreement with the 20-time English champions.
Ten Hag has been in charge of Ajax for four and a half years and has led the club to two Eredivisie titles and the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals.
Hamstra told ESPN: “We hope he stays. We have to stick with the facts, he has not left yet.
“There is interest for Erik ten Hag, that is normal. He has done fantastic. We did everything possible [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that.
“He reacted that he is focusing on Ajax now. We are preparing for two scenarios: Ten Hag might stay or might leave.”
Ten Hag has won 156 of his 210 matches in command of the Amsterdam giants, although his team lost 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven in the KNVB-Beker final this season.
