Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been contacted by Wolves as the Premier League’s bottom club search for a new boss to replace the sacked Vitor Pereira
Wolves have suffered a second blow in their hunt for a new manager after learning that Erik ten Hag has reservations about succeeding Vitor Pereira. Wolves sacked Pereira on Sunday after a dreadful 3-0 defeat by Fulham and are searching for a replacement.
The club are bottom of the Premier League and without a win from their 10 matches – and that lowly position is making their recruitment process difficult. Former boss Gary O’Neil, who was sacked by Wolves in December 2024, ruled himself out of making a return on Monday after having talks with the club.
Ten Hag is on Wolves’ shortlist, alongside Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards, after the Dutchman was sacked by Bayer Leverkusen at the start of the season. He spent two and a half years in charge of Manchester United before being dismissed in October last year as the club brought in Ruben Amorim.
Although he is available, Ten Hag is reportedly not keen on taking over at Wolves, who are already eight points from safety. Wolves have made contact via a third party, but The Times suggests that they would face an uphill battle to secure Ten Hag’s services.
READ MORE: Furious Wolves fans demand answers from owners Fosun and call for Jeff Shi exitREAD MORE: Next Wolves manager: In-demand boss issues response as Gary O’Neil makes decision
Wolves executive chairman Jeff Shi is under mounting pressure as he searches for the ninth permanent manager of Fosun’s ownership spell. Fans have reacted furiously to the latest developments in the managerial hunt, with a potential return for O’Neil less than a year after he was sacked going down badly.
A group of supporters have demanded answers from Fosun owner Guo Guongchang and declared a vote of no confidence in Shi. Time is ticking for a new manager to be found, with a trip to face Chelsea on Saturday on the horizon.
Under-21 head coach James Collins and under-18 head coach Richard Walker are currently at the helm ahead of the tricky game against Chelsea this weekend after eight of Pereira’s staff left with the Portuguese boss.
Edwards spent time at Wolves as a player and has been strongly linked with a return, which would mean leaving Championship side Middlesbrough. But like Ten Hag, he doesn’t sound keen on the role.
“I was told about it by my daughter yesterday, so that probably tells you where I am with it all,” the 42-year-old said on Monday. “I can understand it, with my links to the club, but my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around from the weekend in what is a really big game against Leicester.
“It’s speculation stuff, so it’s hard for me to comment on anything other than Middlesbrough Football Club, which is where my focus is. We’ve done a decent job so far, all I care about is trying to win tomorrow.
“It’s all speculation. I never get drawn into stuff that’s all hypothetical, and I don’t want to get drawn into that. I love being Middlesbrough manager – head coach, I should say – and that’s all I want to think about. I just want to talk about us and Leicester, that’s it.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
