Erik ten Hag's future considered safe by Glazer family & Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Erik ten Hag retains the full backing of the Manchester United hierarchy and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is in the process of acquiring a 25% stake in the club and assuming control of football operations at Old Trafford, 90min understands.

Pressure has mounted on the Dutch coach since the beginning of the new season, with United unable to string together cohesive performances and falling to a series of demoralising defeats - the latest of which came in Sunday's 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag was appointed by owners the Glazer family and current United chief executive Richard Arnold in summer 2022 following United's worst season in Premier League history. His first campaign at Old Trafford ended in success with a top four finish and League Cup win, but regression has been noticeable on the pitch so far this term.

A number of expensive signings have been made under Ten Hag's management, and with their current difficulties - goalkeeper Andre Onana has made numerous errors and Mason Mount has struggled for starts - pressure has inevitably grown on the 53-year-old. But it's understood that the Glazers and Arnold are prepared to stand by Ten Hag, with confidence he can turn matters around.

The Glazers are however in the process of relinquishing control of the sporting operations at United, with Ratcliffe and INEOS still in discussions about closing their stake following a near year-long process set by the owners to explore "strategic alternatives".

It has been learned that Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford and those soon to assume control also remain confident in Ten Hag's position as manager, despite the club's poor start to the season. Ten Hag's exploits in his debut year at United and during his time at Ajax have convinced them of his qualities, and it's understood that, in their eyes, the fault for United's failings does not lie strictly at the manager's feet.

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Ratcliffe's first decisions are set to directly affect the higher footballing structure once control is assumed. The sporting direction is currently held in the hands of CEO Arnold and John Murtough, United's current football director. Arnold in particular has come under excessive pressure and strong criticism stemming from his handling of off-field situations involving Mason Greenwood and Antony.

Ten Hag, like other United managers in the past decade, has also been entrusted with a significant say in transfer activity and dictation of targets, with the manager confirming in August that both the club, represented by Murtough, and himself, hold a veto over transfer decisions. United's policy of entrusting managers with power over transfers in recent seasons has led to strong criticism and repeated cycles of underperformance, and this is also something Ratcliffe is keen to address.

Paul Mitchell is among their targets to become a new sporting director, or a similar title, in the new football operation, though other targets are also being considered. It's believed that a new approach will be adopted to the wider transfer strategy from that point, instead moving towards an overall club identity retained through managers, often described as a "continental model".

"I think they do need to get to the point of really putting down what Manchester United needs to be in the modern game," Mitchell said of United's situation in an interview with Sky Sports in January 2022.

"Erik ten Hag is a top coach from Ajax but they need a top blueprint not only for now but for the next five years, and work towards that.

"You have to know that, over that period, the consistency of the decision-making will yield a good end result. I think we've seen that both Manchester City and Liverpool, that when you adopt that long-term strategy you can get real consistency and sustainable success.

"I think that's the biggest thing for Manchester United; putting down their identity of what they want to be today, but most crucially what they want to be in five years' time, and where they want to be, and what they want to look like; from everything from young players, to the style of play, to the whole culture piece at Manchester United."

The club are not expected to undertake significant business in the January transfer window, though that may change if Mitchell is introduced before then. Jadon Sancho is expected to leave, though stability on the manager and squad front, while massive changes are made behind the scenes, is believed to be of importance at a time of massive uncertainty around the club as a whole.

United are keen for Ten Hag to concentrate on getting the best of the players available and concentrate on coaching, with stability on the agenda and knee-jerk reactions avoided while an inquiry into the current operation - understood to be led by Brailsford - is undertaken for the benefit of the club in the long term.

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