Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag
Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag could join forces at RB Leipzig
Erik ten Hag could be about to join forces with Jurgen Klopp at RB Leipzig - and that could be bad news for Manchester United’s hopes of landing German international David Raum.
New United boss Ruben Amorim has made signing a new left-back a priority after inheriting Ten Hag ’s squad - and the versatile Raum fits the bill perfectly. But Leipzig coach Marco Rose is coming under intense pressure after a poor run of results and speculation is growing that the club have already sounded out Ten Hag as a replacement.
The Dutchman would demand a big say on transfer policy - and he would be unlikely to allow a key player to join the club that has recently sacked him.
Leipzig beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Cup in midweek after going five games without a win in the Bundesliga and Champions League. Tuesday night’s visit to Aston Villa is being viewed as a pivotal game.
[
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United are in the market for a left-sided defender following the news that Luke Shaw faces another spell on the sidelines through injury after missing most of the last year. There are now big fears at Old Trafford that the 29-year-old England international will never recapture the form that made him one of the world ’s best full-backs.
His fitness struggles were a big problem for Ten Hag - and now Amorim is faced with the same issue. Tyrell Malacia has just returned to the squad after an absence of more than 12 months, with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui being forced to fill in.
Raum, 26, who can operate as a full-back or wing-back, would cost around £35million. Amorim is looking to bring in a left-sided defender in the January transfer window - although the club would prefer to secure a loan deal with an option to buy.
Raum started his career with lower league Greuther Furth before moving to Hoffenheim and then joining Leipzig in a £25million deal in the summer of 2022. He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract.
Man United are interested in a deal for David Raum
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If Ten Hag does become Rose’s successor, that would secure United a significant refund on the £10million compensation package it cost them to sack the Dutchman in October. Ten Hag was courted by Leipzig before he left Ajax to move to Old Trafford just over two years ago.
His agent, Kees Vos, met with the Bundesliga club and had agreed on a salary package only for United to table an offer that was too good to refuse. Ten Hag speaks fluent German, having previously worked as coach of Bayern Munich ’s reserve team.
It would be ironic if he now found himself working alongside Klopp given the pair were big rivals in the Premier League. The former Liverpool boss delivered Ten Hag’s most humiliating result when his Liverpool team thrashed United 7-0 at Anfield in March 2023.
It was a huge shock when Klopp announced he had taken up the offer to become part of the Red Bull operation just a few months after leaving the Merseysiders. The German claimed he had been worn out by his intense eight-year spell with the Reds and needed a break from the game.
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