Erik ten Hag 'makes first transfer decision' as Bayer Leverkusen boss and Man Utd star could be the perfect fit
Former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has been appointed as Bayer Leverkusen boss – and he could look to link up with some of his former players.
Ten Hag, 55, was sacked by Manchester United in October 2024 before being replaced by Ruben Amorim.
The Dutchman had been without a managerial role since, but today (May 26), he was appointed as Xabi Alonso’s successor at Leverkusen.
The club’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, said: "With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch.
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"With three league titles and two domestic cup wins, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022.
"And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times."
Ten Hag, who will officially take up the post on July 1, has dubbed the side as "one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe".
And despite Bayer finishing second in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, all in all, it was a disappointing campaign and they failed to replicate the success of the double-winning 2023/24 campaign, which saw them go unbeaten in the German top flight , win the DFB-Pokal and reach the Europa League final.
Florian Wirtz, who is seemingly likely to join Liverpool this summer, will leave the club, meaning Ten Hag may look to bolster his squad ahead of next season.
Centre-back Jonathan Tah is also set to move on, with The Athletic reporting that he has agreed a deal to join Bayern on a free transfer.
So, who could replace Tah?
Although there is nothing to suggest that a deal is in the offing, a smart move for Ten Hag could be to look at signing some of his former players from his time at United or Ajax.
One man who is available this summer is centre-back Victor Lindelof, with United confirming his departure upon the expiration of his contract.
The Sweden international made 284 appearances for the club and won the FA Cup and League Cup during his eight-year stay at Old Trafford.
Lindelof saw an upturn in his form when Ten Hag joined United in 2022.
In 2024, the defender explained how “everyone knows exactly what to do on the pitch” when citing Ten Hag’s methods during an interview with MUTV.
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Bayer Leverkusen, Football, Bundesliga, Victor Lindelof, Transfer News, Champions League, Man Utd
Luke Davies