Erik ten Hag edging closer to Wolves deal after ‘speaking to the club’
Wolves are well underway in efforts to find their next manager after taking the decision to sack Vitor Pereira on Sunday 2 November.
Pereira’s side fell to a 3-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage, directly leading to his dismissal as they remain rock bottom of the Premier League.
The Black Country outfit have failed to win any of their opening 10 league games this season, and have picked up just two points, leading to major concerns at Molineux.
Fans have tipped one of Brendan Rodgers or Erik ten Hag to become Wolves’ manager, while Gary O’Neil was also seen as a key contender for the role.
However, their pursuit hit an unexpected hurdle when O’Neil ruled himself out of the Wolves job, leaving them scrambling for potential alternatives.
Erik ten Hag emerges as the favourite for Wolves
In what has come as a shock to many, former Man United boss Ten Hag is the joint-favourite for the Wolves job amongst bookies, and is firmly in the running.
While he is seen as a surprise contender, having been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after just three games earlier this season, it appears he is next in line.
That is according to former Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who worked at Old Trafford for over a decade and remains very well-connected there, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the Dutch boss’ agent has been speaking to Wolves.
“Honestly, I would’ve been surprised to see him go to Wolves,” he told Football Insider.
“There are a number of reasons for that, not least the fact he’s struggled at both Man United and Bayer Leverkusen and been sacked by both of them.
“The way Wolves operate has always seemed very agent-led to me, when you look at the relationship with Jorge Mendes and all of that sort of thing.
“It’s been very Portuguese-based because of that, and then you look at what Ten Hag did at United, his agent was heavily involved with the Dutch players there.
“But it does seem he’s in the running for the job after all, and his agent has been talking and looking to find him a new job, and I don’t doubt he’s spoken to Wolves.
“I have serious doubts over whether it would be a success, but that’s not for me to decide.
“If he’s in the running, there’s always the chance he could get the job, especially if some of the others they look at decide it’s not for them.”
Brown told Football Insider on 3 November that O’Neil was the front-runner for Wolves, but after his decision to withdraw from the running, Ten Hag has been boosted.
Brendan Rodgers update emerges at Wolves
Alongside Ten Hag, Rodgers was tipped as the favourite for Wolves, having departed Celtic in dramatic circumstances in the weeks prior to Pereira’s dismissal.
Meanwhile, Football Insider exclusively revealed on 28 October that Rodgers is ready for a Premier League return after leaving Celtic and is weighing up his options.
However, Rodgers has doubts about joining Wolves given the situation they find themselves in and instead could decide to hold out for another position.
Brown told Football Insider on 3 November that Rodgers will make a huge decision about his future, with uncertainty lingering about making the switch to Wolves.
As a result, it appears they may be forced to consider alternatives, in what could be seen as a boost to Ten Hag’s chances of landing the job.
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