Erik ten Hag has admitted he still has not spoken to anyone from INEOS ahead of their minority takeover of Manchester United.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company is set to buy a 25% stake of the Premier League club for around £1.3billion, with the long-awaited deal expected to be announced next week following a series of delays.
The takeover will see INEOS take charge of the Red Devils’ sporting operations, and as a result Ratcliffe and co. will have Ten Hag’s future in their hands.
Moreover, they’ll be in charge of United’s transfer policy which has long paled in comparison to their rivals, though given the timing of the deal they won’t have much say in what happens during the January transfer window.
Even so, it will be alarming for fans to know that the incoming investors are yet to contact Ten Hag, which could be viewed as a sign that they may not have too much faith in the manager.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s huge clash at Liverpool, Ten Hag was asked if he had spoken to INEOS at all, to which he simply replied: ‘No.’
Pressed for more details on the matter, the Dutchman added: ‘I can’t say anything about it.
‘There are others in this club who are dealing with the strategic review, so I’m just waiting. I’m focusing on my job, which is performing with the team and developing the team.’
There is much speculation surrounding Ten Hag’s future amid United’s woeful form and poor performances that have plagued them all season.
The club were embarrassingly knocked out of Europe earlier this week and are currently seventh in the league, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, a gap that is expected to get bigger after Sunday’s game.
It is said that INEOS will conduct a review of the manager’s position though he is not in any immediate danger of the sack.
Ratcliffe is reportedly a huge admirer of former Chelsea boss Graham Potter who has been out of work since getting axed by the Blues last season and he would be a leading contender if Ten Hag left.
Potter was considered by INEOS in the past to take charge of Ligue 1 club Nice, who they also own.
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