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Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has issued an update on the future of Erik ten Hag as manager of Manchester United.
The Dutchman is facing the axe at Old Trafford despite winning the FA Cup after a dreadful Premier League campaign that saw United finish eighth – their lowest ever position – and also concede a record number of goals.
They also crashed out bottom of a relatively easy Champions League group and the style of football played throughout the season was negative and chaotic.
In his Daily Briefing today, Romano confirmed that “There have been really important meetings at Manchester United this week as they hold their internal review over the season and over the future of … Ten Hag.”
He noted however that other topics were on the agenda, including how to improve United’s woeful injury record and an assessment of the financial situation regarding transfers.
On Ten Hag specifically, Romano believes that “the Dutch coach and his agents are still waiting for formal communication from Manchester United to understand the club’s position.”
“We could hear this in the next days as we’re entering into the moment for the final decision,” the guru said.
“The board is involved, Ten Hag is waiting, the players are waiting – we’re entering into the really crucial stages on this.”
There have been three schools of thought on what is happening in regard to the manager’s position.
One, championed by another transfer guru, Gianluca di Marzio, is that the decision to sack Ten Hag was made months ago and communicated to him before United played Arsenal.
The other, which is also the opinion of David Ornstein of The Athletic, is that the decision would be made during this end of season review.
The third position was that of Ten Hag himself, who claimed that INEOS had not given him any indication his job was in danger and had been working with him on summer transfer targets.
If the “already sacked” version is true then it is hard to understand why there would have been a delay in announcing the decision last week, unless there has been a last-minute reprieve due to the Cup victory.
Either way, if the 54 year old is to be dismissed, then the announcement would seem likely to be imminent, with former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel “super keen” to replace him, according to Romano.
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