Obvious Ralf Rangnick selection problem emerges to shake up Man Utd manager wishlist

Manchester United’s pursuit of Erik ten Hag could strike a snag.

The Red Devils have officially begun their search for a new manager, with Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino the leading candidate.

Ten Hag of Ajax, on the other hand, is not far behind the Argentine after an outstanding five-year stint with the Dutch giants.

United’s administration recognizes that negotiations will be difficult with both managers already on the job, but another issue with Ten Hag may arise.

Ralf Rangnick, Ten Hag’s right-hand man and former United goalkeeper, could be involved in the process of appointing their manager because he is set to take up a two-year consultancy role in the summer following his interim period as manager, which means there is no room for Ten Hag’s right-hand man and former United goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar.

There is little doubt that Ten Hag has played a significant role in Ajax’s ascent to prominence since his arrival, but van der Sar’s impact at the boardroom level should not be understated.

Van der Saar was appointed CEO of Ajax in 2016 and has been quietly manipulating the reins behind the scenes ever since.

He was a member of the famed 2018/19 Ajax side that reached the Champions League quarterfinals, alongside Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek, David Neres, and Hakim Ziyech.

Ajax would cash in on their greatest assets, but what’s more astounding is how he’s rebuilt the club despite losing the majority of that team.

Van der Sar put his faith in his youngsters, as Jurrien Timber and Ryan Gravenberch were promoted from the reserves, and they were able to resurrect the career of West Ham United failure Sebastien Haller.

This summer, Ajax made another wise acquisition of Steven Berghuis from arch-rivals Feyenoord, while Lisandro Martinez was brought into defense.

Ajax has undergone significant changes, but they continue to compete well both domestically and in Europe.

Ten Hag will be lauded as manager, but Van der Sar has played a significant role in his success.

The concern for United is that Ten Hag will not have Van der Saar to lean on at Old Trafford, which is why someone like Pochettino, who has previous Premier League experience, is ahead of him in the pecking order.

Wes Brown believes both managers would be excellent additions to United and would jump at the chance to join the club.

He stated to 888sport: “We are familiar with his playing style, and I believe he would love to be the manager of Manchester United.

“He’d be fired up, and he’d have the funds to construct his team.

“Ten Hag would also be interested in the position since he would like to come to the top league in the world and demonstrate his abilities. It’s a toss-up between the two.

“Pochettino, on the other hand, has been here before and done it, and he understands the league, the players, and what he needs.

“Whichever one it is, it will be an excellent match. United has struggled in recent years to find the proper manager, and it’s a critical decision.”