Manchester United staff have expressed concern over the influence of Erik ten Hag’s agent Kees Vos on the club’s transfer activity, it has been claimed.
According to Mail Sport, Vos’ Sports Entertainment Group are United’s go-to agency when it comes to negotiating player arrivals and departures, while also providing informal advice on the transfer market.
The club appear to have close ties with the agency, while Ten Hag’s son Nigel allegedly works at SEG as an analyst.
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SEG helped broker several deals during the summer transfer window, which saw United spend £178million, with Vos said to be a regular visitor at Old Trafford and the club’s training ground.
Indeed, the agency was behind Rasmus Hojlund’s £72million acquisition from Atalanta, acted in negotiations for Sofyan Amrabat’s loan arrival from Fiorentina, while United youngster Zidane Iqbal signed for Utrecht in June, just two months after joining the agency from rivals CAA Base.
According to the Mail’s report, SEG’s growing influence has been noted by other agents, unhappy they are losing out on potential deals due to the link with Ten Hag.
However, SEG, are globally renowned business with 600 athletes on their books. The company have also developed a relationship with Manchester City, with leading agent Pere Guardiola, bringing in his brother Pep as a star client.
SEG, a Dutch agency, was previously involved in Robin van Persie, Memphis Depay and Daley Blind’s arrivals to Old Trafford. However, the work with United dried up until the club orchestrated the deal that led to Ten Hag’s arrival in May last year.
A source at SEG noted to the Mail that Vos had no personal involvement in negotiations with West Ham for United centre-back Harry Maguire and pointed out that as a global company, they were involved in more than 300 transfers this summer window.
United transactions represented one per cent of their business.
Moreover, the publication allegedly spoke to a United source, who claimed it is not unusual for top clubs to have strong links with particular agencies due to the personal relationships formed by key players. This often brings advantages in the transfer market.
While reportedly acknowledging Ten Hag’s close relationship with Vos has become a talking point at Old Trafford, the United source insisted that the club’s senior leadership are comfortable with the position.
A spokesperson for Manchester United declined to comment to the Mail Online’s original report. SPORTbible has contacted Manchester United for comment.
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Topics: Football, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Transfers
Chris Byfield