Ajax coach Jerry Hamstra has admitted that the club tried “everything possible” to persuade Erik ten Hag to reject Manchester United’s approach.
The Dutchman is expected to take over at Old Trafford in 2022-23 after agreeing a four-year deal with the 20-times champions of England.
Ten Hag coached Ajax for four and a half years, and led the team to two Eredivisie titles and the 2018-2019 Champions League semi-finals.
“We hope he stays,” Hamstra told ESPN. “We have to stick to the facts, he’s not gone yet.
“There is interest in Erik Ten Hag, that’s normal. He did a great job. We did everything we could [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that.
He is reportedly focused on Ajax now. We are preparing for two scenarios: Ten Hag may stay or may leave.
Ten Hag has won 156 of the 210 games he has played at the Amsterdam giants, despite his side losing 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven in this season’s KNVB-Beker Final.
