Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been dealt a coaching staff blow after Fred Rutten rejected a move to Old Trafford, as per The Metro.
The Lowdown: Ten Hag announced as United manager
The Dutchman was announced as the new Red Devils manager last month and is set to arrive at Old Trafford over the coming weeks when the current campaign ends.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-updates/” title=”Latest Man Utd updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
Ten Hag has signed a contract through to 2025 in Manchester but is still yet to secure deals for any coaching staff. Rutten was seemingly on his radar, but the experienced manager – who is currently working behind the scenes with NEC Nijmegen – won’t be heading to England.
The Latest: Rutten rejects Man United move
As per The Metro on Sunday, Rutten has turned down the chance to join Ten Hag at United after holding talks with the 52-year-old.
He has instead agreed to join the coaching staff of former Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The Verdict: Van der Gaag key?
Ten Hag was seemingly keen for Rutten to join him in England after talks, so this update is a big blow to the new United manager. However, Ten Hag’s current assistant Mitchell van der Gaag has been linked with following his boss to Old Trafford this summer, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that an agreement is now getting closer.
He has been described as an ‘important addition’, so hopefully the Red Devils manager will have better news when it comes to Van der Gaag as Ten Hag looks to get his backroom team confirmed ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Doing that will allow him to focus fully on new additions and who knows, he could ask Van der Gaag for his thoughts on potential signings, should a move go through.
In other news: Man Utd now leading race to sign star striker for Ten Hag in big deal