A host of Manchester United staff are reportedly showing concern over the influence Erik ten Hag’s agent had on players recruitment at the club in the summer transfer window.
United signed Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, Sergio Reguilon, Sofyan Amrabat and Altay Bayındır for £178 million in the summer. However, it has been reported that Ten Hag’s representative, Kees Vos had some influence in some of these transfer dealings.
According to the Daily Mail, Vos has a say in transfer dealings at Old Trafford through Sports Entertainment Group (SEG) – the company he co-founded in 2000.
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Based on the publication, some United employees have voiced their concerns about Vos’ expanding engagement behind the scenes because he frequently stops by Old Trafford and the club’s Carrington training facility.
Hojlund is represented by SEG throughout negotiations with Atalanta. This is so because he had just been with the firm for a month before his move to Old Trafford.
In the negotiations that led to the Red Devils’ signing of Amrabat from Fiorentina, Vos and SEG also represented United.
The final agreement contained a possibility to buy the Moroccan outright at the conclusion of the current campaign.
Goal reports that senior club members at United have insisted that Vos’ position and his connection with Ten Hag are acceptable to them.
The son of the Dutch manager, Nigel, also works with SEG as an analyst. And United have noted that it is ‘not unusual’ for top clubs to have close ties to particular agencies.
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Manchester United’s lean league fortune in the new campaign could threaten Ten Hag’s job if the manager fails to lead the side to winning ways soon. United are currently in an abysmal 13th position in the Premier League table with six points from five games. And their teeming fans are also angling for a return to trophy-winning.
The Dutchman was hired by Manchester United in 2022 after he won his third Eredivisie title as Ajax manager in the 2021/2022 season. He instantly led the ambitious Premier League giants to win the 2022/23 EFL Cup in his first season in charge, but United finished third in the 2022/2023 Premier League.
United last won the Premier League in the 2012/2023 season – their 20th English top-flight league title. The 2015/16 season was the last time the club won the FA Cup, while they were triumphant in the UEFA Champions League in the 2007/2008 season – the third of their three wins in Europe’s topmost club competition so far, and Europa League trophy-success in 2016/2017 season.
United are up in action against Bayern Munich in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League Group A matchday one game at Allianz Arena on Wednesday, September 20. The Red Devils are also billed to travel to Turf Moor for their Premier League clash against Burnley on Saturday, September 20 2023.
By Habeeb Kuranga
