Manchester United impressed with Erik ten Hag as manager search continues

Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino remain the top candidates to become Manchester United's next manager, despite reports of interest in Carlo Ancelotti earlier this week.

United are hopeful of putting a new long-term manager in place ahead of next season, with internal commitment to a fresh project and direction under recently-appointed chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough.

90min understands Arnold has instructed Murtough to assess all options in the hunt for a new long-term boss - Luis Enrique, Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter and Ancelotti have all been linked in some form - but all signs continue to point to either Pochettino or Ten Hag as the best fit as it stands.

Lines of communication with prospective new managers have been opened via intermediaries as United plan ahead, and Ten Hag in particular is impressing due to his work with Ajax.

The Dutchman has led Ajax to two Eredivisie titles, and his team are currently top of the league this term - conceding seven goals in 24 matches, and scoring a mammoth 71.

Ten Hag memorably guided Ajax to within a whisker of the Champions League final in 2019, losing late on to Pochettino's Tottenham in the last four, but has rebuilt the team impressively after a number of key players were sold on following that run. Ajax won six out of six group games in this season's edition, and are well placed to progress to the quarter finals.

United are impressed with Ten Hag's style of play and the ability he's shown to not only deal with academy prospects, but big talents from abroad too. 90min reported last month that United's interest in Brazilian forward Antony was set to intensify, and Ten Hag has played a key role in bringing the 22-year-old to prominence.

Some at United also like how Ten Hag holds himself off-field, and though not the youngest prospect around at 52, United see his maturity as a plus point. There's also scope for him to be the long-term appointment they crave should everything go to plan.

Ten Hag's intermediaries have made sure United are well versed on his situation and future plans - Ajax are aware he is ready to move on at the end of the season and there has been little to no push back from the club over the last six months. Ten Hag, too, is aware of what United are looking for and has interest in the project.

90min understands that Ten Hag has the support of current interim manager Ralf Rangnick, and he feels the Dutchman fits the United project going forward.

The final decision on the next manager is understood to be down to Murtough, though he is set to lean on his staff and confidants to get the decision right. One such confidant is Rangnick, who he has grown closer to in the last few months.

Rangnick will lead United into the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon, as they chase a spot in the top four against Premier League leaders City.