McClaren return is unlikely as United make £2.5m payout
extension. But while they have been able to trigger a clause in Ten Hag’s contract worth £1.6m, the Amsterdam club were unwilling to allow Van der Gaag to join him at Old Trafford without more money being paid.
It is understood that United have got their duo by offering a package worth £2.5million.
But it is unlikely the pair will be joined by former England boss Steve McClaren.
Ten Hag was McClaren’s No.2 at FC Twente – and there were suggestions the Dutchman could turn to him to add experience of United to his backroom staff.
McClaren worked under
Sir Alex Ferguson when United won the Treble in 1999.
It appears, however, that McClaren is not part of the plan to resurrect the club after another miserable campaign.
There are likely to be more additions to Ten Hag’s staff.
Robin van Persie has been sounded out about a return to the club he helped to win the Premier League in 2013.
But the former Holland striker is working in Feyenoord’s academy whilst studying for his coaching badges and his son Shaqueel is coming through the ranks at the Rotterdam club.
If Ten Hag was not fully aware of the extent of the rebuilding job awaiting him next season, then Tuesday’s 4-0 capitulation to Liverpool at Anfield provided it, a performance which drew vitriolic criticism from club legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville.
United have gone without silverware for five years. Ten Hag steps into a club which has had no discernible or consistent recruitment pattern for eight years, and into a dressing room in need of overhaul.
Six players are out of contract in the summer with Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata and Lee Grant all set to leave.
Ten Hag will also need to address the declining form of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire’s captaincy and the misfiring Marcus
Rashford.