Erik ten Hag has revealed there is no agreement with Ajax to stop him raiding his soon-to-be former employer when he takes over at Manchester United in the summer.
It was revealed in April that the Dutchman will become United's next manager having emerged as the club's preferred option ahead of Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Perhaps inevitably, the Red Devils have been linked with a whole host of Ajax players in the fortnight since, as well as other names from around the Eredivisie whom Ten Hag would be familiar with.
Those Ajax stars who have been linked with Man Utd include defender Jurrien Timber and striker Sebastien Haller, as well as winger Antony - who is attracting interest from a number of leading Premier League sides, 90min understands.
However, while rumours linking the Amsterdam club's big names with a convenient switch to Old Trafford will have previously been taken with a pinch of salt, Ten Hag has now added some fuel to the fire.
When asked by Voetbal International whether he had an agreement with Ajax to not target their players once he has left, the coach replied: “No, there are no agreements about that. I now have very good players, but it’s not an issue at all.”
Ten Hag was predictably asked further questions about his imminent move to United, as well as the future of Cristiano Ronaldo - but he gave them short shrift.
“I am not yet involved with Manchester United. I’m working on Ajax," he continued. "I’m used to that [the excitement of him taking over in Manchester]. Ajax is also a big club, but it’s not about the media, it’s about football. I now have to perform with Ajax.”
Listen now to 90min's Manchester United podcast, The Promised Land, with Scott Saunders & Rob Blanchette. On this week's show they discuss Edinson Cavani's future and what the rest of the season may hold for United.
“Those are questions for the future. We are in an important title race and an important week," he added when asked about Ronaldo.
"I now want to focus my attention on that and not on Manchester United.”
Source : 90min