Incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was, on Friday, drawn on the possibility of targetting members of his current Ajax squad as reinforcements to his ranks at Old Trafford ahead of next season.
Highly-regarded tactician ten Hag is of course primed to take his place on the bench in Manchester this summer.
The 52-year-old’s arrival, in turn, is expected to spark something of a squad overhaul, on the back of what has proven another alarmingly underwhelming campaign to date.
Speculation in the media, meanwhile, has pointed towards a number of Ajax stars currently plying their trade under ten Hag’s watch as potential arrivals at the Theatre of Dreams.
The likes of Jurrien Timber, Antony and Lisandro Martinez have all been tipped to follow their boss to Manchester ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Speaking in a press conference on Friday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of a potential raid on his soon-to-be former employers was put to ten Hag himself.
And the Dutchman went on to confirm that an agreement has not been put in place with the board at The Johan Cruyff Arena to rule out as much, albeit before assuring that the subject represents a ‘non-issue’:
Erik ten Hag on clauses into his Man United deal: “There’s no agreement in place that would exclude me from taking players to Manchester United”. ? #MCFC
“Which Ajax players are interesting? I have very good players here, but that’s a non-issue”, he says via @wetalkajax.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 6, 2022
Ronaldo staying put
Interestingly, ten Hag’s latest comments come fresh on the back of the former FC Twente star coming to an alleged decision on the future of a key member of the current first-team setup at Manchester United.
The player in question? Cristiano Ronaldo.
Reports had of course been rampant of late that an Old Trafford departure could be on the cards for Ronaldo in the summer, amid concerns over his fit in ten Hag’s tactical system.
As per the reliable Jason Burt of The Telegraph, though, those hopeful of seeing the Portuguese superstar remain in Manchester beyond the summer need not fret, amid the assurance that the club’s incoming boss ‘wants him to stay’.
Exclusive: Erik ten Hag to tell Cristiano Ronaldo he wants him to stay at Manchester United | @JBurtTelegraphhttps://t.co/ExeHEYzBk7
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) May 6, 2022
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