Breaking news: Manchester United set to appoint ex Manchester United player as assistant coach under Ten Hag .

 Manchester United icons Robin van 

Persie and Rio Ferdinand have put their

 names ahead for the post of assistant 

manager under Erik ten Hag, according

 to Stretty News.

According to the aforementioned source

, the Red Devils are close to confirming

 the appointment of Ajax manager Erik 

ten Hag ahead of the 2022-23 season. 

The Dutchman is expected to become

 the new permanent manager and will 

take over from current interim boss

 Ralf Rangnick.

In related news, Manchester United 

want a former player to become ten 

Hag's assistant manager next season. 

The United hierarchy.prefers a former 

player to keep the harmony maintained 

in the dressing room under a 

new foreign coach.

Rio Ferdinand and Robin van Persie 

are two candidates who have put their 

names forward for the vacant post. 

However, Stretty News reports that the

 Manchester United hierarchy are 

not convinced by Rio Ferdinand with 

van Persie under consideration.

It is worth mentioning that the concept

 of ex-players becoming assistant managers

 is not new at Old Trafford. Club legend

 Ryan Giggs was the assistant manager

 under both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

More recently, former midfielder Michael

 Carrick was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 

assistant manager. Carrick was also 

made caretaker manager for three 

games following the sacking 

of Solskjaer earlier this season.

Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, is edging closer

 to becoming the next Manchester United

 manager. According to Stretty News, 

United officials met the Dutchman last

 week in London to discuss a possible

 job offer.

Ten Hag has done a wonderful job 

at Ajax. The 52-year-old tactician has

 guided the Amsterdam side to two 

Eredivise titles and also led them to 

the Champions League semifinals in 2019.

Manchester United have a 

massive summer coming up in 2022

Manchester United are expected to have

 a massive summer. The Red Devils will

 not only be in the market for a new 

manager but also for some new players

 to bolster their squad.

According to the Manchester Evening

 News, a new defensive midfielder is 

United's top transfer target this summer.

 Ralf Rangnick is currently forced to rely

 on the likes of Fred, Scott 

Mctominay and Nemanja Matic in 

midfield.

The Red Devils could also be in the 

market for a new centre-forward. The club

 will be looking to sign a long-term replacement

 for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose contract

 expires at the end of the 2022-23 season.