What would be the cost of dismissing Ten Haag?

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is under serious pressure as a result of his team’s dismal form.

United have lost eight of their opening 15 games in all competitions this season, making it statistically the club’s worst start to a campaign since 1962.

The Red Devils sit 11 points behind leaders Tottenham in the Premier League and are out of the EFL Cup after being beaten 3-0 at home by Newcastle in round four.

It is perhaps not just games that Ten Hag has been losing at Old Trafford in recent months. Former England midfielder Paul Merson believes that the manager has also lost the respect of some of his players.

“He is under serious pressure and they have to have a meeting and see what they are going to do,” Merson told Sky Sports this week. “There are ways of losing football matches and, for me, he has lost the players. You do not start getting beaten the way they are getting beaten, there are ways of losing and this is not good in my opinion.”

However, United may be reluctant to part with the 53-year-old for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, Ten Hag has been in the job for less than 18 months and, as a club, United historically like to show patience towards managers by giving them time.

Only one of United’s four ‘permanent’ managers directly after the end of the 26-year Sir Alex Ferguson era was afforded fewer than 100 matches. The Ten Hag reign has so far only lasted 77 games.

Another reason why United may prefer to stick with Ten Hag for the time being is because it would be expensive to fire him.

According to The Athletic, Ten Hag is earning £9 million per year – £750,000 monthly – and is under contract for another 20 months.

Therefore, United would have to pay him around £15m in compensation if he was fired today.

However, the overall process of changing managers would likely cost significantly more than £15m.

As well as the costs involved with hiring a replacement, United would likely need to pay compensation to multiple members of coaching staff that were brought to the club by Ten Hag and will likely also leave if and when he does.