Erik ten Hag is officially staying on as Manchester United manager, according to the latest reports, with talks of potentially extending his contract having already begun.
The Dutchman was under huge pressure after delivering Man United‘s worst Premier League finish in history, as well as crashing out of Europe and the Carabao Cup, but it looks as though his side’s historic win over Man City in the FA Cup final looks to have done enough to save his job.
As first reported by the likes of The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, INEOS have made their “final decision” on his future and the memorable season sign-off against what remains the best team in the country has clearly proved enough to restore their faith in him for the foreseeable.
After the talks held on Tuesday, 11 June, the club are now said to be negotiating with ten Hag and his representation over him staying on beyond the current deal.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Erik ten Hag to stay as Manchester United manager. #MUFC end-of-season review culminated with decision to keep 54yo in position. After talks today Dutchman will remain at Old Trafford + hold negotiations over contract extension @TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/tAzM2Ld378
Ornstein details how the 54-year-old’s current United contract runs until June 2025, with an option to extend by 12 months, adding that the talks will determine whether that clause is set to be triggered.
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Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co. were said to be undecided on ten Hag given the disappointing domestic season, which was also accompanied by a number of unwanted records being broken at the club over the past 12 months or so.
This resulted in reports of early conversations with other managers, including newly promoted Ipswich Town and former United youth coach Kieran McKenna, after a shortlist of potential replacements is said to have been drawn up.
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Nevertheless, ten Hag looks to have survived the storm and with United scraping back into Europe by the skin of their teeth thanks to the FA Cup win – which also happened to be his second trophy in just as many seasons at the club – he is set to stay on for the next campaign at the very least.
Only time will tell whether ten Hag’s project at United will come to bear fruit and whether he will be a part of the overall rebuild in the long term under INEOS.
It also remains to be seen what will happen with the likes of Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho, both of which are currently loaned out from the club but around whom many questions regarding their future still remain.
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He and his squad, however it looks come August, will need to make a strong start to the 2024/25 season, that’s for sure.
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
Sport
Manchester City release limited-edition Blossoms shirts exclusively in new flagship store
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have released a limited run of special Blossoms shirts, which will be available exclusively at the new flagship City Store.
Etihad Airways has donated the front-of-shirt space for the special drop, which celebrates the Stockport band’s lifelong support of Man City and will fundraise forCity in the Community’s 40th anniversary.
The Manchester City x Blossoms collab features the band’s logo across the chest of the 2024/25 season’s away shirt – one of the Club’s most popular designs in recent years.
Profits from sales of the shirts will be donated to CITC to support its 40th anniversary fundraising, which empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Blossoms have just secured their fifth UK number one album with their latest release, ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’, and will soon be heading on an arena tour that includes two massive shows at the Co-op Live.
There’s a very limited run of the Man City Blossoms shirts, available in sizes small to large, which will exclusively be sold at the new flagship CityStore.
The shirts have dropped in-store this morning, with further drops to be released around the band’s tour dates this November and December.
As for that new City store – it’s a whopping 21,000 sq ft, three-floor space at Medlock Square, right beside the Etihad Stadium, and is the biggest shop in the club’s history.
The new flagship has opened today in collaboration with PUMA and Stichd, and features a new, interactive ‘Make It Yours’ customisation station as well as an expanded range of Manchester City products.
Danny Jones -
12th June 2024 
