Klopp has already endorsed possible Solskjaer replacement Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag has already received a glowing verdict from Jurgen Klopp which is sure to have caught the eye of the Manchester United hierarchy.

Ajax boss Ten Hag is one of the managers linked with the Old Trafford hot seat as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's position grows ever more untenable.

Solskjaer has led United to a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City and a 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool in the club's last two Premier League home games.

These leave the Red Devils sixth in the table, while their Champions League performances have been unconvincing and they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in September.

Solskjaer's former teammates are beginning to concede a change is needed in the dugout, with Rio Ferdinand urging him to leave now "with his head held high".

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However, the United hierarchy are set to stick by the Norwegian over the international break, and their decision may well be influenced by a lack of available replacements.

The club missed out on Antonio Conte due to his appointment at Tottenham Hotspur last week, although United also harboured concerns over the Italian's financial demands.

Zinedine Zidane is another highly-rated coach and he is a free agent following his Real Madrid departure this summer, but reports in Spain claim the legendary Frenchman has no interest in the Red Devils job.

Others believed to be on United's radar include Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, who are contracted until 2026 and 2023 respectively.

This leaves Ed Woodward weighing up paying hefty compensation to prise either manager from their current club.

Ajax would also require a lump sum in order to part ways with Ten Hag, but this would likely be much more affordable for United as the Dutchman's £2million-per-year salary is over three times less than Pochettino's wage at PSG.

There is certainly much for executive vice-chairman Woodward to ponder, especially as Liverpool manager Klopp has already given Ten Hag his vote of confidence.

"Erik is rightly regarded as one of the most exciting coaching talents in world football at the moment because of the work he does with Ajax," Klopp told reporters in December 2020.

"Of course, it is a wonderful club - one of the stellar names of European football - but in this moment it is clear they have outstanding leadership of the organisation and Erik is a big part of that.

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"They have had to adapt in recent seasons after losing a few players to rival clubs. I remember from my own experience at (Borussia) Dortmund how that feels and what a challenge it is.

"How they deal with it is exceptional. The foundations of the team remain solid and they have recruited well. They have a clear identity. I love watching them, I have to say."

Klopp was speaking after facing Ajax in the Champions League, which Ten Hag led his side to the semi-finals of in 2019.

The 51-year-old has also won two Eredivisie-Dutch Cup doubles since his appointment in 2017.

Ten Hag's stock has risen drastically in recent years, but widespread reports suggest he would refuse to leave the Amsterdam giants midway through the season.

He agreed to a new deal until 2023 in April and last month he declared: "When I extended my contract with Ajax, I said, 'I think we have a team that we can develop'. We want to annoy the European top teams. We're on our way, let me put it this way."