Erik ten Hag’s name keeps popping up in terms of candidates for the Wolves job, and conflicting reports are circulating on whether he would actually take the role.
David Ornstein was the first to report the ten Hag links and stated he was a name discussed internally at Wolves.
It was later reported contact between the Dutchman and the Old Gold was made, but the former Manchester United boss was reluctant to take on the challenge.
However, then news that ten Hag is not planning talks with the club emerged, but that would not be the end of it.
Additional reports by ESPN say ten Hag is open to having discussions, so it is not quite clear where exactly the Dutch manager stands.
Before Wolves engage in any critical talks, if they are planning to, they must weigh up the pros and cons, and we have some here.
Positives for appointing Erik ten Hag
A proven winner
Erik ten Hag has proven himself as a manager who wins. At Manchester United, he won two trophies in two seasons, despite overwhelming injury concerns in his second year.
Additionally, at Ajax, he won three consecutive Eredivisie titles in four years at the Dutch club.
The job at Wolves will be very different for ten Hag, but his history shows he knows how to win, and to win when it matters.
The Wanderers are desperate for a manager who can turn the tide, and they need someone who can win those crucial games.
That is one area in which ten Hag excels.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 15 |  FulhamFulham | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 11 |
| 16 |  LeedsLeeds | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 11 |
| 17 |  BurnleyBurnley | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 10 |
| 18 |  West HamWest Ham | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 21 | -11 | 7 |
| 19 |  Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 19 | -12 | 6 |
| 20 |  WolvesWolves | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 22 | -15 | 2 |
He trusts the youth
During his time at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag had no problem trusting the youth at the club. Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Willy Kambwala were all players who saw significant game time under the Dutchman.
A fresh injection of younger talent has been something Wolves fans have been crying out for.
Mateus Mane would be the biggest benefactor, as he was not given much of a chance by Vitor Pereira but continues to be mentioned among supporters.
The 18-year-old has been largely impressing across the youth levels, and at one point Mane spoke directly to Pereira about his chances in the first team.
If ten Hag were to be appointed, we suspect it would not be long before a few academy players started to make their debuts in Old Gold.
Negatives for appointing Erik ten Hag
Communication
One of the biggest sticking points about his time at Manchester United and his short stint at Bayer Leverkusen was his communication skills.
His direct style of talking has often been criticised, and reports about his time at Bayer Leverkusen suggested he was unable to get his message across.
Wolves need someone who can unite the players and the fans. The worrying history of Erik ten Hag suggests he may not be able to do so.
He likes to get right to the point, but with the situation the Old Gold are in, they need somebody with a more inspiring voice.
He is stubborn tactically
As football fans we can probably all remember the media furore surrounding Erik ten Hag and the massive spaces in midfield his teams left.
It was a constant point of criticism during the final year of his time in the Premier League, and yet, the Dutchman refused to address it.
With Wolves facing relegation, they do need stability, but they also need someone who will not be afraid to tackle the problem in front of them.
In order to get points and climb out of the bottom three, they may need to adapt to their opponents, and being stubborn would not be helpful.
Wolves’ squad not suited to his style
Erik ten Hag’s football philosophy involves both maintaining possession and using fast and direct counterattacks. However, at Wolves, there is a clear lack of pace in the attacking positions.
Rodrigo Gomes is the Old Gold’s best option out wide in terms of speed up top, but the Portuguese is now out injured for four months.
The squad has a real lack of wingers at the moment, and that will be a major issue if ten Hag does get the job.
If it were the summer window, the Dutchman might have been a better shout. However, the squad is not built for his style of football.
The Wanderers could really use someone like Carlos Forbs at the minute.