Manchester United assistant manager Mitchell van der Gaag reportedly has no intention of returning to Ajax.
On Monday evening, the Dutch giants announced that they had parted company with head coach Maurice Steijn after just 11 matches in charge.
Steijn only won two of his games during that period, one of which came in the Europa League qualifiers, and the decision was made to go in a different direction.
With Ajax facing fixtures with Brighton & Hove Albion and PSV Eindhoven this week, Hedwiges Maduro has been placed in interim charge, and is expected to remain in the role for at least the aforementioned two games.
However, Ajax officials have the job of making one of the most important managerial appointments in their history with the club currently sitting in the Eredivisie relegation zone.
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Whoever replaces Steijn will have the job of trying to build relationships in a side that was heavily changed in the summer, club officials selling a wide array of key players.
According to The Mirror, Van der Gaag has emerged as one of Ajax's targets to succeed Steijn courtesy of his knowledge and familiarity with the club.
The 52-year-old spent time in charge of Jong Ajax - the second-string team - between 2019 and 2021 before being promoted to assistant in Erik ten Hag's final season in charge.
Nevertheless, the report claims that Van der Gaag has already told United officials that he will be turning down any approach from Ajax.
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Ajax allegedly made enquiries to determine whether they would be required to pay any compensation to acquire the services of Van der Haag before Steijn formally left the Amsterdam giants.
Van der Gaag is said to be keen to continue his career alongside Ten Hag, though, at least for the foreseeable future as they bid to deliver an improved spell of form at United.
Despite recent wins over Burnley, Brentford and Sheffield United, United remain down in eighth position in the Premier League table, eight points adrift of leaders Tottenham Hotspur.
The Red Devils are next in action when they square off against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night, a potentially-decisive fixture with United having already lost their opening two group-stage contests.
Darren Plant
