New contract with Manchester United not ‘easy’ – Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has said he is yet to agree a new contract at Manchester United and admitted it won’t be “easy to do” after being told by the club’s new football regime that his job is safe at the team from the Premier League.

Ten Hag was told by the INEOS-led football board last week that he would not be sacked as manager after winning the FA Cup, despite leading the team to eighth in the league.

But having agreed to keep the former Ajax coach, sources have told ESPN that INEOS are ready to extend Ten Hag’s contract beyond the final 12 months of his existing deal.

Ten Hag has now said that further talks are needed with United, who have confirmed to him that they have spoken to former Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel about replacing him.

“Me and Manchester United still have to find an agreement on the new contract,” Ten Hag told Dutch station NOS. “This is not easy, we will have to keep talking about it.

“United told me they spoke to Tuchel but in the end they came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.”

Ten Hag, who joined United in 2022, said he met with club officials on holiday on the Spanish island of Ibiza to sort out his future.

“Manchester United disrupted my holiday, they were suddenly on my doorstep,” he said. “They flew to me in Ibiza.

“INEOS took its time. We are new to football, it is normal to reflect the season. It’s no secret that they talked to several candidates.

“Here in the Netherlands this is ‘not done’, in fact it is not even allowed here. But in England they have different rules and laws.

“As in any organization, and this seems very sensitive to me, there is an assessment. From there conclusions are drawn. The new management is playing football for the first time.”