Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is one of the most highly regarded coaches in Europe, that much is already clear given his excellent record with the Dutch club, which is inevitably why he was interviewed for the top job at Manchester United. After all the rumours and speculation, the Premier League giants finally made their move, although doubts remain despite indications those talks went well.

However, after Eurosport published the thoughts of Louis van Gaal, the top candidate for the Untied job has been urged to think twice. Based upon his own previous experience, the current Netherlands head coach was quite scathing with his comments, stating that ten Hag “must choose a football club and not a commercial club,” lambasting what Manchester United has become. He believes the current owners prioritise economic success and financial gain, rather than the pursuit of silverware.

Interestingly, the United post may not be the only job opportunity open to ten Hag, should there be any truth to comments posted by Twitter transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano. According to the Italian journalist, ten hag has also been approached by two more clubs, although the transfer gossip specialist neglected to mention who they were. Nevertheless, it is already widely acknowledged that the 52-year-old plans to leave Ajax, making him a prime target for major clubs throughout Europe.

Key names in the frame

After he was recently interviewed by the Old Trafford hierarchy, given that reports began to circulate that initial negotiations had been largely positive, bookmakers immediately amended their odds regarding who might be the next Manchester United manager. For such a long time now, PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino has been the outright betting favourite, although following the meeting with ten Hag, the current Ajax coach in now considered odds-on to land the job.

Nevertheless, the Manchester United board insist that even after interviewing ten Hag, there are other candidates under consideration. The next managerial decision will be crucial say the Express, therefore it seems inevitable that Pochettino will be one, having openly admitted he is not entirely happy with life in Paris, while the top brass at United have long admired the Argentine coach.

Another more recent option could be Thomas Tuchel, amidst uncertainty at Chelsea after their owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK Government. When the Russian oligarch put the London club up for sale, the name of Tuchel was quickly linked to the upcoming United job, as inevitable speculation began to surround the futures of players and staff at Stamford Bridge.

United may be hedging their bets

Beyond this leading trio of tipped candidates, Spain head coach Luis Enrique is another name regularly tipped for consideration. However, the former Barcelona boss has all but ruled himself out of the running, recently insisting that he will be leading the Spanish national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. That being the case, it seems highly unlikely that United would be willing to wait until after the international tournament.

Currently considered to be an outside option at best, despite only joining Tottenham Hotspur after they fired Nuno Espirito Santo earlier this season, Italian coach Antonio Conte still features amongst the betting odds available at bookmakers. Lengthier odds are also available for Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui, although there are considerable doubts about whether he would settle well in English football.

To get a better picture of all the leading candidates, along with the latest odds for each potential option Manchester United may be considering, SBO has cut through the noise of online betting. Their experts have carefully researched what betting companies have to offer, producing unbiased reviews to recommend the best betting sites available in every country, highlighting where the best odds and offers can be found.

The need for swift decisions

While it seems that Manchester United are apparently keen to bide their time, patiently evaluating all the current managerial options available to the club, waiting too long before announcing an appointment could prove detrimental. Delay too much and planning for next season and beyond will inevitably be affected, as existing players hold off on decisions to renew or extend contracts, while potential transfer targets may also begin to lose interest.