Erik ten Hag has already 'annoyed and upset' ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka

Erik ten Hag has already managed to annoy Granit Xhaka since being appointed as Bayer Leverkusen boss, according to reports in Germany.

The Dutch coach returned to the dugout after several months out of the game following his Manchester United sacking. He's inherited a squad from Xabi Alonso that won the Bundesliga title this time last year with Xhaka a crucial cog in their midfield.

The ex-Arsenal man has proved a huge hit in Germany but he and the new manager have not struck it off on the right note. Bild claim that Ten Hag made a deliberate effort to give his new Leverkusen players time and space before touching base for the first time.

However this approach has not been universally well received with Xhaka among those to take issue with the new manager's idea. Ten Hag only made contact with the former Arsenal midfielder three weeks after his appointment. That lack of communication has seen the Swiss star question his future.

Ten Hag has been keen to underlined how important he felt the 32-year-old would be to his plans moving forward, but the period of silence looks to have backfire on the new manager.

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Xhaka was an integral part of Alonso’s remarkable Bundesliga-winning side that went unbeaten all year and claimed the German Cup. He has a contract at the BayArena until 2028 but AC Milan are circling. It’s claimed a deal could be sealed if Milan make an offer in the region of £12.8million, despite Leverkusen initially holding out for a fee of £34m.

The German side have already seen a host of their leading lights leave, putting Ten Hag on the back foot as he begins his tenure. Florian Wirtz has left for Liverpool in a British-record deal that has banked the club more than £100m.

Jeremie Frimpong has also joined him in moving to Anfield whilst defensive star Jonathan Tah has moved to arch rivals Bayern Munich on a free when his contract expired. It does leave Leverkusen with money to spend however after finishing second in the Bundesliga.

Ten Hag had been tipped to return to Ajax, only for him to reject the Eredivisie outfit in favour of a move to Leverkusen when they came calling. He signed a two-year contract and will look to prove himself once again after a poor end to his spell in charge in Manchester.

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