Man United owners Glazers set to be impacted after incoming boss Erik ten Hag to strip off Harry Maguire’s captain armband

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has yet to be confirmed as Manchester United’s next manager but he is reportedly already making plans to transform the Red Devils next season.

Erik ten Hag has won the race to become Manchester United’s next permanent boss and will take the reins from Ralf Rangnick at the end of the current season.

It’s a dream job for the Ajax manager but one that will require a lot of hard work and patience to make successful. Ten Hag will have pressure to achieve results as soon as he walks through the Old Trafford doors, and for that reason, will have to be prepared to make a number of potentially difficult decisions.

High up on the agenda will be selecting a captain to lead his Red Devils on the pitch. As things stand, Harry Maguire is Man United’s captain, but the England international has endured a torrid season.

According to the MEN, Maguire is in genuine danger of being stripped of the armband next season, with Ten Hag reportedly considering the prospect of signing Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea, who could effectively replace Maguire at the back.

Although the Chelsea center-back has reportedly turned down United’s approach to sign him in the summer, a deal may not be completely off, according insiders.

Should Ten Hag indeed name a new United skipper and effectively freeze out Maguire at Old Trafford then the Glazers’ decision to bankroll Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will prove to be a poor one.

Solskjaer parted with £80million to land Maguire from Leicester City in 2019, making him the most expensive defender in the world. The then-United boss predicted the England international would lead the Red Devils for years to come.

“Harry is one of the best centre-backs in the game today,” Solskjaer said at Maguire’s unveiling. “He is a great reader of the game and has a strong presence on the pitch, with the ability to remain calm under pressure. He will fit well into this group both on and off the pitch.”

But Maguire hasn’t lived up to this billing in a Red Devils shirt and could prove to be a costly mistake should Ten Hag look to shake things up when he arrives on these shores in a few months.

Ajax technical manager Gerry Hamstra was recently asked about Ten Hag moving to United and claimed the club are still doing everything they can to keep him in Amsterdam.

“There is interest for Erik ten Hag, that is normal. He has done fantastic,” Hamstra said on Sunday. “We did everything possible [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that. He reacted that he is focusing on Ajax now. We are preparing for two scenarios: Ten Hag might stay or might leave.”

Philip Acquah

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