Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag cost Bayer Leverkusen a huge €100,000 (£86,000) for each day he was in charge of the club, it has been claimed. Ten Hag was sacked by Leverkusen after just three competitive matches, with only two of them coming in the Bundesliga.

Ten Hag was handed a tough task after taking over from Xabi Alonso. Leverkusen cashed in on a number of members of the 2023-24 double-winning squad, including Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, leaving the new boss with a significant rebuild operation on his hands.

He was only given 60 days at the helm, though, with Leverkusen pulling the trigger after the team threw away a 3-1 lead to draw with 10-man Werder Bremen. Ten Hag picked up one point from his two Bundesliga games in charge, though he did oversee a 4-0 cup win away to fourth-tier Sonnenhof Großaspach.

According to Bild, the source of the reported €6m payout figure, Leverkusen were ready to ditch Ten Hag even earlier than that. The publication reports that the boss "managed to turn all departments, bodies, and players against him in a very short time".

Even before the sacking was confirmed, Bild report, the club was conducting transfer business without their manager's knowledge. Former Real Madrid defender Lucas Vazquez joined as a free agent after talks with managing director for sport Simon Rolfes, with Ten Hag alleged to have only met the player after a medical was passed and contracts were signed.

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"A parting of ways at this early stage of the season is painful, but we felt it was necessary," Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro said following Ten Hag's dismissal. Rolfes added that: “This decision was not an easy one for us".

"Nobody wanted to take this step," Rolfes continued. "However, the past few weeks have shown that building a new and successful team with this setup is not feasible. We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything we can to take the next steps in our development with a new setup.”

Ten Hag, for his part, was furious the club didn't give him longer to make his mark and pointed to his record of winning silverware in previous jobs. His summer spending came in at just under £150m, with Wirtz accounting for more than half of £200m in sales, with former Premier League stars Mark Flekken and Jarell Quansah among the new arrivals.

“A new coach deserves the space to implement his vision, set the standards, shape the squad and leave his mark on the style of play,” the former Ajax boss wrote. “I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret.

“The decision by Bayer Leverkusen’s management this morning to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise. To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented.

“This summer, many key players who were part of past successes left the squad. Building a new, cohesive team is a careful process that requires both time and trust.

"A new coach deserves the space to implement his vision, set the standards, shape the squad and leave his mark on the style of play. I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret.

“I feel this was never a relationship based on mutual trust. Throughout my career, every season I have been able to see through to the end as a coach has brought success.

“Clubs that placed their trust in me have been rewarded with success and silverware. Finally, I would like to thank the Bayer Leverkusen supporters for their warmth and passion, and I wish the squad and staff every success for the remainder of the season."

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