ERIK TEN HAG could be due a huge payout if he is sacked after only signing a contract extension in the summer.
New minority club chiefs Ineos – headed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe – backed the Dutchman to turn things around after a difficult season beset by injuries.
2The cost for Man Utd to sack Erik ten Hag has been revealedCredit: PA
2Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos bosses handed him a contract extension in JulyCredit: Alamy
United registered their lowest-ever position in the Premier League by finishing eighth and came last in their Champions League group, with only victory in the FA Cup providing any reason to cheer.
Ten Hag, 54, was handed an extension to his previous deal that brings his expiry date up to June 2026.
However, having won just three of their opening eight games in all competitions this season along with some dreadful performances, the pressure is mounting.
Despite calls for his head from outside the club, reports suggest that internally bosses are still backing the former Ajax manager for the now.
Ten Hag has pivotal games against Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the league this week, which could ultimately determine his position after the international break.
But according to a report from Goal, it will cost United £17.5million to give Ten Hag the boot.
This is thought to be £7.5m more than the £10m it would have cost to part ways in June.
The pay-off is around half the money saved by the club after making 250 members of staff redundant earlier this year.
Ten Hag claims he is not worried about his future, saying: “No, I’m not thinking about this.
“We all made this decision to stay together, as an ownership, as a leadership group in the summer.
“Also we made the decision from a clear review what we have to improve as an organisation, but we knew it will take some time.
“We are all on one page, or in one boat, together – the ownership, the leadership group, the staff and the players as well. I don’t have that concern.
“Of course, there is always a new game, it will be a new day. We will bounce back.”
A lack of viable options in the managerial market was cited as one of the reasons behind the club sticking with Ten Hag.
However, talk of his potential replacement – such as former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, ex-England boss Gareth Southgate or assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy – has grown in recent weeks.
