Erik ten Hag REJECTS claims that Man United’s clash with Newcastle will be his Old Trafford farewell… with the Dutchman clinging on to his job after their poor season

Erik ten Hag refuses to believe that Manchester United’s final home game of the season could be his farewell at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag and his players will do a round of appreciation after the match against Newcastle, despite a desperate campaign that left the Dutchman clinging to his job.

It will be the last appearance at Old Trafford for several United stars, but Ten Hag reacted with surprise to the suggestion that this could also be his last home game.

“Goodbye for me?” he said. ‘It’s not how I see it. It’s not the way I want to start a lap of honor for the fans.’ When asked if he still wants to be in charge next season, Ten Hag replied: ‘It is the answer to the questions you have asked so often. Same answer.’

Thomas Frank is one of the potential replacements if United sack Ten Hag and there was fresh speculation about the Brentford manager on Tuesday.

United’s minority owners Ineos are known to admire Frank and believe he is the kind of coach who could happily concentrate on team matters and leave the club’s new leadership group to sign players.

Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi are other names in the frame, but the absence of a high-profile candidate could still work in Ten Hag’s favor as Ineos has yet to make a decision on his future.

The United boss insists he still has the support of the fans as he tries to end the season by salvaging a European place and winning the FA Cup.

“In good times and bad we are together and the fans show that, so we will take a lap of honour,” he said. ‘In the stadium, home and away, they always support the team and me. Even when I’m on the street, many people come up to me – maybe it’s just polite, but I don’t feel that way.

‘I hardly ever get a negative reaction because the fans understand where we stand. The fans understand that this club is in transition and the enormous problems we have faced, especially injuries in key areas.”

Raphael Varane became the first United player to confirm his departure after the club failed to reach an agreement with the French defender to renegotiate his £340,000-a-week contract.

Other big earners will follow if Ineos reduces the wage bill, including Anthony Martial, Casemiro and Jadon Sancho. The club will also listen to offers for Marcus Rashford and Antony.

But United do not want to sell Bruno Fernandes – and insist their captain does not want to leave – after meeting at Carrington last week.

Fernandes, who turns 30 in September and earns £240,000 a week, could be a target for some of Europe’s top clubs or the Saudi Pro League this summer. “In all those years he was an extremely important player for Manchester United,” said Ten Hag. ‘So many assists, so many goals. It’s clear he’s a very important player for us.”

Ten Hag also disputed Wayne Rooney’s claim on Sky Sports last Sunday that some United players are hiding behind injuries so they can play in the FA Cup final and European Championship.

Confirming that Lisandro Martinez would return to the squad against Newcastle, with Fernandes and Rashford also battling to be fit, Ten Hag said: ‘You have to see here at Carrington, the players are desperate to play.

‘I see Licha Martinez, I see Bruno who took a fitness test to play on Sunday. Rashford did everything he could, but it didn’t work.

‘You also see Victor Lindelof and Rapha Varane, they are training to make themselves available for the final.’