Erik ten Hag boosted by ‘constructive meeting’ with Jim Ratcliffe after Manchester United investment

LONDON – Erik ten Hag said he held “very positive” talks with Jim Ratcliffe when the Manchester United manager met the club’s new minority stakeholder this week.

Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group will assume control of United’s football operations once the purchase of a 25 per cent share in the Old Trafford club is ratified.

The British billionaire has been in Manchester for a series of meetings with club staff, including ten Hag, who has been heavily criticised during a troubled second season in charge.

United crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage, were eliminated from the League Cup by Newcastle United and are languishing in eighth place, nine points adrift of the English Premier League’s top four.

Ten Hag is under intense pressure after 14 defeats in all competitions this season – but the Dutch manager said his first contact with Ratcliffe went well.

“We had a long meeting, for many hours we sat together and on many issues we are on the same page so it was very positive,” ten Hag said on Jan 4.

“From both sides, it was a very constructive meeting and we look forward to working with them.”

United travel to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round on Jan 8 and a shock defeat by the third-tier side would add to the strain on the 53-year-old Dutchman.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana is available for the clash, following talks to delay his departure to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cameroon have a friendly scheduled for Jan 9 against Zambia before they kick off the tournament against Guinea on Jan 15.

“We’re talking with the Cameroon federation, it was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here (in July from Inter Milan),” said ten Hag.

“It’s constructive. I don’t know yet (if Onana will be available for Tottenham Hotspur on Jan 14) but he will be here for the game against Wigan.”

One of many issues to plague ten Hag this term has been the future of Jadon Sancho. The England attacker has not featured since August, after falling out with the United boss when he was dropped for a match at Arsenal.

Sancho is said to be close to rejoining Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season, but ten Hag would not be drawn on the reports.

“I can’t say anything about that. We have to wait and see how things are going. When we have news of course we will tell you,” he said.

He confirmed United have triggered contract extensions for Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Hannibal Mejbri.

The club are understood to be in discussions with Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial over their future, instead of taking up options in their current contracts.

“We are talking with Rapha Varane, with Anthony Martial, and we triggered the options on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal,” ten Hag said.

Asked why the two players’ contract options had not been triggered, he said: “I think that is an internal discussion between the club and the players.” AFP, REUTERS