Man Utd get Erik ten Hag boost as rival in 'advanced talks' with manager

Manchester United are set for a welcome boost in their pursuit of Ruud van Nistelrooy with Burnley reportedly in advanced talks with Scott Parker. Relegated Burnley were said to have been in discussions with Red Devils-linked Van Nistelrooy following Vincent Kompany’s move to Bayern Munich.

Former United striker Van Nistelrooy is reportedly being targeted for a place in Erik ten Hag’s coaching team. The Dutch football icon could return to Old Trafford after spending a year out of work.

However, United previously faced competition from Burnley for Van Nistelrooy. The 48-year-old was widely reported to have been a target for the Clarets in their search for a high-profile head coach.

The Athletic now report, though, that Burnley are in advanced talks with former England midfielder Parker. The 43-year-old has also been out of work since being dismissed by Club Brugge in March 2023.

Parker’s potential appointment at Burnley could free the path for United to hire Van Nistelrooy. INEOS are expected to make changes to Ten Hag’s coaching team.

Benni McCarthy has left the Premier League side after two years. The South African former Blackburn forward predominantly coached the strikers at Old Trafford and was praised for his role in Marcus Rashford’s superb form in 2022-23.

McCarthy is keen to explore managerial opportunities. United may also decide to replace Eric Ramsay, who left towards the end of the season to become head coach at MLS outfit Minnesota United.

Van Nistelrooy’s arrival would be well received by United fans. He scored a staggering 150 goals in 219 appearances during a five-year spell.

United’s summer overhaul of both the backroom and playing staff is likely to accelerate now that Dan Ashworth has finally been allowed to begin work at Old Trafford. The Red Devils agreed a compensation package with Newcastle, where Ashworth had been placed on gardening leave in February.

Defensive reinforcements are likely to arrive at United. Reported target Jarrad Branthwaite, for whom United have seen an offer rejected, previously worked under Van Nistelrooy at PSV.

“He was brilliant for me,” Branthwaite said of Van Nistelrooy’s coaching during his loan spell in the Eredivisie.

“At the midpoint in the season, I hadn’t played as much as I would have liked. I had a clause in my contract where I could have come back here [to Everton] and, having hardly played, I said I wasn’t not sure what I was going to do.

“He sat me down for half an hour and said I was going to play every game in the second half of the season. At the time, I was like, ‘You can say that, but how am I meant to believe you?’ We were on a winter break, I was on holiday, and he kept ringing me every day, saying, ‘Trust me, you are going to play.’”