While Ten Hag is headed, another name could come up. BBC Sport reporter Mike Phelan is “unlikely” to stay. Photo by ADAM DAVY / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

A new era

Phelan was hired by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as an assistant supervisor during his interim tenure at the end of 2018 and was subsequently hired on a permanent basis. Despite Solskjaer’s dismissal last November, Phelan remained at United and continued to work under Ralf Rangnick.

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Solskjaer’s other assistants, Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna, resigned, with the latter leaving to take up a position in Ipswich Town and take coach Martyn Pert with him. Phelan was considered an important part of a “cultural restoration” under Solskjaer, helping to restore the old sense of the club under Sir Alex Ferguson, but in the end the story is unlikely to be polite at this time due to a lack of silverware. Rangnick had commented on Phelan’s role last December, which caused some confusion. Darren Fletcher, technical director, seems to be more active on the sidelines. Rangnick said: “Mike Phelan does not watch training – he did not do it when Ole was in charge, but he is also a member of the coaching staff, but he is never on the pitch when we train. “He is not out there and he did not do it when Ole was in charge. “Chris (Armas) will not replace Mike but rather Michael Carrick.” The Times reported in January that Rangnick had looked at Phelan to try to join a separate dressing room. Photo by ANP via Getty Images

Perfectly balanced

While United would lose an assistant who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson if Phelan left, the club could have another. Ten Haag reportedly wants to hire an assistant with experience at United, in relation to the Netherlands. The Guardian reports that this could be Steve McClaren, while Rene Meulensteen has been suggested by ESPN as a possible alternative. Dan is still wondering what would have happened if United had kept Juan Veron … Manchester United “hope to announce agreement with Eric Ten Hague next week”