Ajax are likely to fail with any approach to lure Manchester United assistant boss Mitchell van der Gaag back to the club.
The Eredivisie side have sacked Maurice Steijn following the club’s disastrous start to the season that leaves them in 17th place.
Legendary Dutch coach Louis van Gaal has returned to Ajax in a consultancy role and and is keen for Erik ten Hag’s No 2 to have role in the Amsterdam club’s new look coaching set-up.
However, Mail Sport understands that Ajax face a uphill battle to lure the 52-year-old back to Holland.
Van der Gaag is a key part of Ten Hag’s backroom team at Old Trafford and the United head coach is desperate to keep his long-term aide alongside him.
Any move back to the Dutch capital for Van der Gaag would depend on the coach pushing to leave United, a scenario that is rated as unlikely.
Van der Gaag has a close relationship with Ten Hag, having worked with the manager at Ajax before the pair arrived in Manchester ahead of last season.
