Ajax boss Erik ten Hag claims he is ‘ready’ for a new ‘challenge’

The Ajax boss has been linked with the job at Manchester United in recent weeks

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has claimed that he is 'ready' for a new 'challenge' away from the club in an interview with Dutch outlet, de Volkskrant. Ten Hag has been linked with the permanent managerial role at Manchester United following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. At present, Ralf Rangnick is currently in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season, with the German set to move into a two-year consultancy role after. The Dutchman is admired by the hierarchy at Old Trafford and has hinted that he may be open to moving on from Ajax in favour of a new job overseas, but isn't actively pursuing a move away from the Eredivise side. He said: "I think I'm ready for it [coaching abroad]. I would be happy to take up that challenge. "But I'm not chasing it. If it turns out that that step will never come, I will not say that my coaching career has failed. "But I think I have sufficient competencies to take on that challenge." Ten Hag's current deal expires in 2023, but the only 51-year-old isn't the only name linked with the role at United. Mauricio Pochettino has been heavily linked with the job as well, however Paris Saint-Germain are reluctant to let the Argentine leave the club. United faced Crystal Palace with new interim boss Rangnick in the dugout for the first time on Sunday (5 December) after Michael Carrick had taken charge of the previous three games as caretaker manager. Related links:

• Michael Carrick steps down as first-team coach at Manchester United
• Ralf Rangnick admits he might stay on as permanent Man Utd manager
• Patrice Evra admits he ‘isn’t excited’ by Ralf Rangnick appointment