New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will arrive at the club from Ajax in the summer, replacing interim boss Ralf Rangnick in the Old Trafford dugout next season
Erik ten Hag is already house hunting in Manchester ahead of his arrival (Image: 2018 UEFA)
New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is ready to become Pep Guardiola’s ‘nosey’ neighbour.
The Dutchman, 52, will take over the hot seat at Old Trafford at the end the season and has handed over a list of requests to United bosses. He has told United he doesn’t want to live out of a suitcase and stay at the Lowry Hotel, where former boss Jose Mourinho spent his entire tenure in residence.
The Red Devils have been tasked with sourcing a rental property – just yards away from where Manchester City boss Guardiola owns a £2m penthouse in Salford.
United have looked at the same complex where other City stars including Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva live close by.
Ajax chief Ten Hag grew up in a rural area but prefers to be at the centre of things and close to all the amenities, rather than live in the sticks.
He currently lives above a supermarket in a district of Amsterdam and agents have been tasked by United to sort something out before the end of the month.
United will be footing the bill, with premium rentals in the area costing up to £10,000-per-month. It’s understood the swanky Edge Apartments and No.1 Deansgate have also been checked out.
Pep Guardiola lives in a stunning Manchester penthouse (Image: Alamy Stock Photo)
A United insider revealed: “ten Hag feels it is important to be immersed in the local culture and has plenty of interests away from football.
“He knows Pep very well from their days working together at Bayern Munich and will be close enough to pop round for a cup of sugar if he needs it!”
Legendary former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson famously described rivals City as “noisy neighbours” after the power shift in Manchester over the last decade.
Ten Hag will be hoping to close the gap to City when he arrives in the summer, with Guardiola’s side currently 26 points ahead of their bitter rivals in the Premier League table.
Erik ten Hag is eyeing a similar home to Pep Guardiola’s apartment
Erik ten Hag could soon become Pep Guardiola’s newest neighbour
Speaking after his appointment was announced, Ten Hag explained: “It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead.
“I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.
The new Man Utd boss wants a city centre apartment Credit: MEN
Pep Guardiola’s block in the middle of town is one option Credit: MEN
Pep has a £2m apartment in a luxury Manchester city centre block Credit: MEN
“It will be difficult to leave Ajax after these incredible years, and I can assure our fans of my complete commitment and focus on bringing this season to a successful conclusion before I move to Manchester United.”
United will go into Ten Hag’s first season in charge off the back of a fifth consecutive season without a trophy, with their last triumph coming in the Europa League in 2017.
