Chris Wheeler (@ChrisWheelerDM): MAN UTD COACHING RESHUFFLE 🔴 Ten Hag chooses Van Nistelrooy & Hake as assistants with Ineos blessing ⚫️ Van der Gaag set to leave after Cup Final win 🔴 McClaren in talks over future ⚫️ McCarthy goes but Utd want Fletcher to stay

First time it’s actually been “stated” that Van der Gaag is leaving

The identity – and nationality – of the two men set to join Manchester United’s coaching staff this summer offer a telling insight into the changes taking shape at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.

As Ten Hag continues to discuss a new contract after co-owners Ineos decided to keep him in charge, United’s willingness to bring in two Dutchmen as his assistants hints strongly at the fact that Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake have been handpicked by the manager himself.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe said he wanted to give Ten Hag the right environment to succeed and, in that sense, he has been good to his word. If Van Nistelrooy and Hake join United – and it remains an if at this stage – it will have the blessing of Ineos, but first and foremost it will be Ten Hag’s choice.

After a rocky first six months under his new employers, the 54-year-old is being empowered to refresh his coaching staff and effectively hit the reset button in co-operation with Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford and United’s new technical director Jason Wilcox. It’s safe to assume that United’s incoming chief executive Omar Berrada and prospective new sporting director Dan Ashworth were part of that process too.

This feels like more than just a reshuffle of the coaching team, however. It is the result of months of fact-finding and analysis, primarily carried out by Brailsford and Wilcox, at Carrington. It is the outcome of talks between Ten Hag and an Ineos delegation led by Brailsford at the manager’s holiday base in Ibiza earlier this month.

Ultimately, it will represent a collaborative effort designed to put everyone at the club on the same page.

Ever since the Glazer family handed over control of football operations to Ratcliffe at the turn of the year, there have been three factions at Old Trafford: United, Ineos and Ten Hag’s camp.

Now, after months of tension and the drama surrounding his position, it’s hoped that the club can move forward with a clear strategy.

There are still a number of moving parts before anything can be finalised: first of all, Ten Hag’s new contract, which is expected to be confirmed following positive talks. Secondly, an agreement with Van Nistelrooy and Hake to become his new assistants. And, thirdly, a resolution over the futures of current coaches Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren.

It’s hoped that Darren Fletcher will accept a place in the new set-up after giving up his title of technical director to Wilcox, but forwards coach Benni McCarthy will leave when his contract runs out on Sunday.

There could be other changes to the coaching, fitness and analysis departments, but it’s understood that the majority of the staff will stay the same. The plan is to have everything in place before the first group of non-international players report for pre-season training at Carrington on July 8. United face Rosenborg in Trondheim a week later and Rangers at Murrayfield on July 20 before going on tour to the US.

Continued..

Suggesting ETH chose RVN because they’re both Dutch feels like a stretch. RVN is a very popular figure at the club for obvious reasons – it’s a no-brainer appointment.

I’m dubious on whether ETH would pick an assistant that is so ripe for taking over.

Fletcher clearly has something on one of the glazers to keep sticking around like this

Hope we keep McClaren. I love the guy, he used to work under Sir Alex.

Is there a way we can have Ruud in the starting XI?

Hopefully they can both help with our style of play. ETH was too stubborn and left us open in midfield for 90% of the season.