Breaking news: Incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has already started work on fixing the disjointed squad,as he wants this man as captain not Ronaldo.

 Erik ten Hag is already working 

on the future of Manchester United’s 

players in between taking charge of 

Ajax matches.

United are respectful of Ten Hag’s 

commitments in Holland in the middle

 of a title race — his side beat PEC 

Zwolle 3-0 yesterday — but on days off, 

he is in regular contact with the football

 department headed by John Murtough 

and Darren Fletcher.

The incoming manager will have a key 

role in deciding whether United’s out of 

contract players will be offered deals to 

stay, before he ends his spell in Amsterdam

 on May 15.

So far there has been no strong indication

 from Ten Hag that Paul Pogba, Jesse 

Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinso

 Cavani — all due to leave in the summer — 

need to be secured.

Instead, there is a belief that freeing up 

squad spaces will allow the 52-year-old

 to make four or five signings.

In addition, Andreas Pereira, Anthony 

Martial and James Garner are all available

 to return from loan.

Former player Fletcher is set to play a more

 visible role in United’s recruitment process

 this summer.

Matt Judge, who often led meetings with 

potential targets and their agents, is leaving

 United and Fletcher will take over some

 of those responsibilities.

The Scot won numerous trophies with 

United as a player under Sir Alex Ferguson

 and is in a good position to enthuse prospective

 recruits about what playing for the

 club means.