Manchester United are working hard on their future plans, but their biggest decision on the top job at the club is yet to be made.
Current manager Erik Ten Hag saw his side finish their home league campaign on a successful note courtesy of a 3-2 win over Newcastle United, which still gives them a chance of a top-six finish.
United’s final Premier League clash is at Brighton on Sunday before they take on rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final, and their performance at Wembley – which could decide whether they are in Europe next season, could have a major say on whether Ten Hag stays in his role.
New minority owners INEOS and their boss Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been assessing the footballing department, but sources have confirmed to HITC that a decision on Ten Hag has not yet been made.
This has been confirmed as the club make moves in the transfer market including their move for Fulham star Adarabioyo – with United’s new technical director Jason Wilcox is trying to persuade to move to follow him to Old Trafford. Wilcox was his youth manager during their time together at City.
United’s move for Tosin stalls as they don’t know who boss will be
Whilst the Manchester-born stopper is keen on a move to United, the major issue – and one that means the 26-year-old can’t yet commit to the club – is that they are unable to confirm to him who his potential boss would be next season.
Because of this, HITC can confirm that United’s move for Adarabioyo has indeed stalled because of the uncertainty over who will be in charge next season.
United are set to make a firm decision in the coming weeks over Ten Hag’s position but sources have confirmed to us that decision has NOT yet been made.
Whilst Wilcox has headed up talks with Adarabioyo – they have been unable to give any guarantees on his role within the team, due to the fact they don’t know about the head coach to this point.
That does leave Newcastle in pole position for the player – as they drive home to the player the fact that they will give him the chance to start next season.
United can’t offer guarantees over next season’s manager
United remain keen on Adarabioyo, but they realise the player will not commit to them until they can give some assurances about who his manager will be and that may see them this miss out on him all together.
Ten Hag himself was quizzed about his future following their Newcastle success, but he could not offer any further insight.
“I don’t think it is the right moment to talk about this. I have to talk about the next game and then a great final – it a huge achievement even in a disappointing season,” Ten Hag told the post-game press conference.
“I see the positives this team is developing. I think we had a difficult season, but one thing was constant and that was them [fans] being with us and backing the team. We are very pleased with it and we want to pay them back.
“Our last game [at home]. We wanted to thank them for sticking with us, we are in difficult times. We are in a transition at this club and the results are not what we expect. We also have our reasons, but it’s still a disappointing season.”
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