LONDON: Erik Ten Hag is expected, after all, to continue as manager of Manchester United after a long-drawn-out review by the club’s board.

The BBC has reported United are discussing a new contract with Ten Hag whose current deal expires next year.

United instigated their review immediately after the FA Cup final.

Ten Hag went into the game against Manchester City at Wembley amid a backdrop of reports claiming he was going to be sacked no matter the outcome.

Instead, United’s deserved 2-1 victory allowed the club hierarchy to approach the review in a more positive light.

Ten Hag is known to be delighted at the review outcome after suggestions he had been growing irritated at the time taken for United to reach their conclusion.

Thomas Tuchel is thought to have spoken to new United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week but ruled himself out of the running, while the club’s interest in Mauricio Pochettino also cooled even though he was available after his exit from Chelsea.

Graham Potter, Thomas Frank, Roberto de Zerbi and current England boss Gareth Southgate were also linked with the job, although Brentford were never contacted about Frank and appointing Southgate this summer was impossible due to his commitments with England.

Ten Hag has been on holiday with his family in Ibiza.

United finished eighth last season, their lowest position in the Premier League era.

Dutchman Ten Hag took charge at Old Trafford in summer 2022 and is United’s fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, following David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He arrived at Old Trafford following a successful four-and-a-half year spell at Ajax that saw him win three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups. In his debut season he led the club to third place in the Premier League, along with the EFL Cup and FA Cup finals.

He won his first trophy as United boss in February 2023 when the Red Devils beat Newcastle to lift the EFL Cup, but were beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup final three months later.

The 2023-24 season proved more difficult, including an early exit from the Champions League after finishing bottom of their group. They also finished the Premier League weakly, winning only won five of their final 12 matches in all competitions.

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