Erik ten Hag to stay as Manchester United manager
Erik ten Hag is to stay as Manchester United manager, Sky News understands.
The Dutchman has been the subject of intense speculation over his future at the club after a disappointing Premier League campaign, which saw United finish eighth.
However they beat rivals Manchester City – the Premier League champions – to win the FA Cup final in a surprise 2-1 victory at Wembley at the end of the season.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes lifts the FA Cup. Pic: PA
United have spent the past fortnight reviewing the 2023-24 campaign and overall first-team operation, leading to more questions over Ten Hag‘s position.
But United have decided the 54-year-old will stay in his post after considering all eventualities, it is understood.
Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris said Ten Hag, who has been at the club for two seasons during which time United won the League Cup in 2023, is now in talks over a new contract.
He signed a three-year deal with United in 2022 – which is due to expire next summer – taking over from the club’s interim coach Ralf Rangnick after former coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked.
Sky Sports News reported former Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel held talks with United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in France last week but was no longer under consideration for the manager role at Old Trafford.
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Man Utd ‘is a very big challenge’
While Ten Hag is aware of reports the club have been in contact with other managers, he has always wanted to stay but is realistic when it comes to expectations about his future.
Even winning the FA Cup did not end the doubts
Erik ten Hag’s fate had been on the line through the lack of public backing since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS gained control of football operations at Old Trafford in February.
Even winning the FA Cup – beating Manchester City so unexpectedly last month – did not end the doubts.
The moment of glory was overshadowed by the sense Ten Hag’s job was at risk following an end-of-season review, with word spreading of candidates already being approached.
The honours’ board shows the addition of a piece of silverware – just as he could produce the League Cup at last year’s inquest into the season.
But the biggest prize in English football proved elusive – just as it has been for the five permanent managers to fill the United hotseat since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after hoisting the Premier League trophy for a 13th and final time.
Ten Hag was further than any counterpart from winning it. Eighth place was United’s lowest-ever finish in the Premier League and the worst season since 1990.
That was almost four years into Sir Alex’s reign – the Scot benefiting from patience not afforded to his successors by taking six full seasons to win his first title.
Perhaps it’s understandable Ten Hag was expected to make United more competitive sooner.
The financial firepower of Manchester City – winners of six of the last seven Premier League titles – cannot be an excuse.
After all, Ten Hag has benefited from more than £400m in new recruits.
But United finished 31 points behind Manchester City as their neighbours won a fourth consecutive Premier League title.
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Sky Sports News reported in May that Gareth Southgate was sounded out about the possibility of becoming United manager one day – but he had no interest in engaging in any conversation that was not about his job as England boss.
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Southgate is on good terms with INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford and he worked closely at the FA with incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth.
It has been reported by other media outlets that United have also been monitoring ex-Chelsea and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and former Brighton and Chelsea head coach Graham Potter.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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