Manchester United have decided to keep manager Erik ten Hag and may soon make a coaching addition ahead of pre-season.
It took a while, but Ineos finally arrived to a decision on Erik ten Hag’s future earlier in June.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co have decided to keep hold of Ten Hag after all, putting an end to months of speculation about his future.
Ten Hag will be under no illusions; he must improve on an eighth-place finish in order to fend off lingering questions about his job.
United must take a step forward next season and that means major signings are required this summer.
Potential additions make the big headlines but United may look at another way to inspire some improvement next term.
Ruud van Nistelrooy nearing Manchester United return
Ten Hag has a solid coaching team around him having appointed two men he knows very well.
Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren both worked alongside Ten Hag in the Netherlands and followed him to Old Trafford.
United did lose a coach earlier this year though as Eric Ramsay left the club to become Minnesota United boss.
A new arrival to the United coaching staff is now a priority and a familiar face is being strongly linked with a return to the club.
Reports on Sunday suggested that United had approached Ruud van Nistelrooy over a coaching role under Ten Hag.
Burnley have been looking to appoint Van Nistelrooy as their manager though, leaving the Dutchman with a tough decision.
Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad now claim that Van Nistelrooy is set to pick a move to United despite Burnley’s interest.
It is stated that Van Nistelrooy sees United as a ‘wonderful challenge in a different role’, seemingly believing that he can advance his career by learning his trade at United rather than jumping into another managerial job.
Fabrizio Romano adds that Van Nistelrooy’s return to United is ‘advancing fast’, with a deal seemingly moving closer and closer.
How did Van Nistelrooy fare as PSV Eindhoven boss?
This is an emotional move for Van Nistelrooy and also for the United fanbase, who would no doubt love to see him return to the club.
Van Nistelrooy was an absolute goal machine as a United striker and he may well be able to help Rasmus Hojlund’s development with his influence as a top goalscorer.
The 47-year-old has been coaching since 2014, initially joining the Netherlands setup before heading back to former club PSV in 2018, coaching their Under-19’s.
Van Nistelrooy was back with the Netherlands between 2019 and 2022, combining his PSV duties with an International role.
After managing PSV’s second team for the 2021-22 season, Van Nistelrooy was given the top job in Eindhoven in the summer of 2022.
Van Nistelrooy’s record was fairly impressive, winning 33 times and losing just eight games in 51 as PSV boss.
However, citing a lack of support inside the club, Van Nistelrooy decided to resign in May 2023 and hasn’t returned to the game since.
Now looking to get back into coaching, Van Nistelrooy looks set to join Ten Hag’s staff and make a stunning return to United.