Manchester United already know Erik ten Hag’s successor, says ex-Premier League player

Former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has admitted he believes Manchester United have already chosen Erik ten Hag’s successor.

Ten Hag, 54, has had a mixed time since being named Manchester United’s new manager back in the summer of 2022.

Winning a trophy in each of his two seasons at the club so far, the Dutchman’s performance in knockout football has been at a particularly high level.

However, in the league, Ten Hag’s United massively underwhelmed last season, finishing in 8th, finishing a Premier League campaign with a negative goal difference for the first time in history.

Despite this, Ten Hag remained in the job, with new signings such as Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro demonstrating INEOS’ continued backing of their manager.

Alongside those signings, there was also a huge shift amongst the background staff, which included the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake as new assistant managers.

Of those two names, former United star Van Nistelrooy is the one Agbonlahor believes will be Manchester United’s next manager.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor stated that he “100%” believes Van Nistelrooy will be the man to succeed Ten Hag at United.

Admitting as much whilst discussing Ten Hag’s time at United so far, Agbonlahor stated the following regarding the future of the United hot seat:

“I don’t think he’s got it in him, to be honest, I just look at him and I just see a manager who hasn’t got that presence on the touchline,” Agbonlahor stated. ” The players didn’t look like they were like up for the game either. So I think he’s got a lot of problems, Ten Hag.

“I reckon that ownership are probably thinking, ‘Thank God we’ve got Van Nistelrooy there’, because I think Van Nistelrooy will come through and take the job – 100 per cent.

 “If you’re part of the Manchester United ownership you’re probably saying, ‘You know what, we tried to search for every manager possible to take his job in the summer but we couldn’t. We’ve kept him on but if this continues are we going to be seventh or eighth again?”

Erik ten Hag’s next game as Manchester United boss will be on Saturday. The Dutchman’s Red Devils will travel to St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, to face the recently promoted side in that day’s early kick-off.

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