Man United identify three transfer priorities after Ten Hag interview

Man United have picked out three areas of their team they want to improve after interviewing Erik ten Hag for the permanent managerial position, according to reports.

Ten Hag has emerged as the frontrunner for the job at Old Trafford after a report claimed that Mauricio Pochettino’s camp had insisted that it was now the Dutchman’s job ‘to lose’.

Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel and Julen Lopetegui have also been considered as Man Utd continue the process of looking for the ideal appointment.

Multiple reports have indicated that Man United have spoken to Ajax boss Ten Hag as the Old Trafford club step up their search for a permanent manager.

Ralf Rangnick was handed the reins on an interim basis in November following the sacking of 1999 treble hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after nearly three years in charge.

Man Utd want to appoint his permanent successor before the summer and plan to speak to a number of candidates, with Ten Hag understood to have met with the Premier League club as part of that process.

The 52-year-old Dutchman has been at the helm at the Johan Cruyff Arena since 2017 following stints coaching Go Ahead Eagles, Bayern Munich II and Utrecht.

The Daily Telegraph is one of those publications which has reported that Ten Hag being interviewed for the Old Trafford job and insist that Man Utd ‘want their new manager in place as soon after the final game of the campaign as possible.’

The report adds: ‘The new manager is facing a huge rebuilding job and United are conscious that the more time they have to plan the better. United are keen to add a midfielder or two and a striker to their squad this summer.’

Meanwhile, former Man Utd right-back Gary Neville insists that Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone should not be ruled out of the running for the job at Old Trafford as he could be the “tough manager” that the Red Devils need.

Neville old Sky Sports last week: “Diego Simeone should be a candidate, but it’s never been achievable to get him out of Atletico Madrid.

“He is wedded in there, he is tied. But it would be brilliant to see him in the Premier League, you saw on Tuesday night, I’ve seen it many times – I got beaten 2-0 in Valencia by his brilliant Atletico Madrid team that [Antoine] Griezmann was in before he went to Barcelona.

“Fantastic coach, brutal in how he approaches the game, I think in every single way. He’s tough, and Manchester United need a tough manager.

“Manchester United need a manager who can compete with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola – they’re the best, so they need someone who can stand on that touchline and feel equal to them and I think Simeone could.

“I wouldn’t rule Simeone out at all, but I think Ten Hag and Pochettino would be the way forward because they’ll want a progressive coach that plays a certain way, that probably is a little bit cheaper and available.

“I don’t know how much it would cost to get Simeone out of Atletico Madrid, but Manchester United would have to pay big money.”

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