Erik ten Hag would cost Manchester United less than £2 million in compensation if they decide to make him their next manager.

The Dutchman has a release clause of just over £1.7m in his contract with Ajax, which has 15 months left to run.

Ten Hag, 52, was interviewed for the United job a little under a fortnight ago and is the current favourite to become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor ahead of a second round of interviews.

His main competition for the post is understood to be Paris St-Germain and former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, although both men are also the subject of interest from other leading European clubs.

Pochettino – who is also interesting Real Madrid – is facing an uncertain future at PSG. The Argentine and his staff would be in line for a compensation package of between £15m and £20m if sacked by PSG.

Ten Hag broke his silence over the Old Trafford links this week by describing United as a “great club” and expressing hope that Ajax would not stand in his way if he decided to pursue a fresh challenge.

Ajax gave Ten Hag their blessing to be interviewed by United and recognise they could struggle to keep the coach at the club beyond this season given the interest in him.

“My focus is currently only on Ajax. But in football you never know. I don’t want to rule anything out,” he said.

“If at some point I should decide to take the next step, I hope that people here will understand.

“Manchester United is a great club with great fans. But I can only repeat myself: my full focus is completely on Ajax.”

United are hoping to make real progress on the situation in the next few weeks and want the new man in place once the season is over so he can hit the ground running ahead of a crucial summer for the club.

The futures of around 12 players are in doubt, with five out of contract at the end of the season, including Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard.

United have been targeting players who they feel would fit the sort of possession-based and high-pressing game favoured by their preferred managerial candidates, like Ten Hag, but advancing deals at this stage is more complicated than usual with the new manager still to be named. Potential signings are, understandably, also asking who will be in charge from the summer.