Erik ten Hag expecting to take charge of Manchester United next week

Erik ten Hag expects to take charge of Manchester United's Premier League fixture against Brentford next Saturday.

United held a pre-arranged executive meeting in London on Tuesday and club figures refused to clarify Ten Hag's position. Sources close to the Dutchman expect him to be in the dugout when United resume their season after the October internationals.

Ten Hag, 54, is currently out of the country amid the break in the club calendar. Brentford is the first of seven games in 22 days for United before the November internationals. The United co-chairmen Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer, football board member Sir Dave Brailsford and sporting director Dan Ashworth all met at Ineos's office in Knightsbridge to discuss Ten Hag's position, among other matters. Chief financial officer Roger Bell and Ineos sport chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc were also in attendance for the six-hour summit.

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A United source said the gathering in Knightsbridge was a routine monthly executive committee meeting and that there was no reason to expect a statement in its aftermath. There has been radio silence from Ratcliffe this week after he declined to offer Ten Hag his backing in an interview with the BBC last week.

After attending a meeting at Old Trafford on Monday, Ratcliffe exited via a rear entrance that was inaccessible to the public or supporters. United have already assessed potential replacements for Ten Hag, with Thomas Tuchel viewed as an attractive option as he is out of work. Tuchel was Ratcliffe's favoured candidate had United sacked Ten Hag in the summer.

Other managers in employment are admired by United and it is still possible Ruud van Nistelrooy could take caretaker charge if Ten Hag is dismissed. Having extended Ten Hag's contract by a year in July, United have had their worst start to a league season since 1989-90, collecting eight points from seven games. They have a -3 goal difference and only Southampton have scored fewer goals.

United have won three of their 11 games in all competitions and they have failed to score in four of their past five Premier League games. The majority of Ten Hag's summer signings are also struggling. Joshua Zirkzee has managed one goal in 10 games, Matthijs de Ligt was dropped for the goalless draw with Aston Villa and midfielder Manuel Ugarte was unused in the stalemates with Villa and Porto last week. United have invested £625.43million on signings since Ten Hag was appointed in May 2022.