MANCHESTER UNITED are at risk of losing Erik Ten Hag’s right-hand to Ajax.
Holland‘s top club have had a disastrous start to the campaign which saw fans attack their own stadium after a 4-0 defeat to Feyenoord last month.
GettyErik ten Hag’s assistant Mitchell van der Gaag could be about to take over ten Hag’s previous job at Ajax[/caption]
They have taken just five points from their opening six games and sit in the relegation zone.
The club have brought in former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal as an advisor as they look to steady the ship and get things back on track.
And the board have reportedly identified Ten Hag’s assistant, Mitchell van der Gaag, as the man for the job, according to De Telegraaf.
Maurice Steijn is currently still in position as manager after being appointed in the summer but his position is hanging by a thread.
He took over from former Everton centre-back John Heitinga who was the caretaker manager last season.
Heitinga’s reign ended disappointingly as the club failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2009.
Any form of Europe this season looks an increasingly impossible task with the club 15 points off fourth – which would earn them Europa Conference League.
Despite having one of the strongest squads in the Dutch league it doesn’t feel ridiculous to say that Eredivisie survival could be van der Gaag’s primary objective.
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A lot hinges on whether ten Haag would be willing to lose his right hand man and whether the club would give permission for this to happen.
Ten Hag has endured a tricky start to the season with Manchester United sitting tenth in the Premier League after eight games played.
The Dutchman is understood to retain the full backing of his players however, despite his decision to exile winger Jadon Sancho.
United will return from the international break with an away trip to Sheffield United as they look to build momentum after last week’s late win against Brentford.
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