Monday 4 November 2019 21:16, UK
Bayern Munich want Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to replace Niko Kovac, who was sacked as manager on Sunday, according to Sky in Germany.
Contact has already been made in their efforts to bring the Dutchman to the Allianz Arena, however, Sky in Germany report that the 49-year-old will not be available until the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
Since his appointment in 2017, Ten Hag has won the Eredivisie, the Dutch Super Cup and KNVB Cup, and he guided Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals last season.
The Dutch champions' run in the European Cup included victories over Real Madrid and Juventus during the knockout stages - as Ajax reached the last four of the competition for the first time since 1997.
Ajax are undefeated at the start of the season in the league and are six points clear at the top of the Eredivisie after ten wins and two draws.
Ten Hag is currently under contract at the Johan Cruyff Arena until 2022.
Kovac was sacked as Bayern manager after 16 months in charge, following their 5-1 defeat to his former side Eintracht Frankfurt.
CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the Bavarian club's president Uli Hoeness held discussions with the Croat on Sunday, following the defeat at the Commerzbank Arena on November 2.
Bayern are currently fourth in the Bundesliga, four points behind Borussia Monchengladbach after 10 games.
Analysis: Why did Bayern pull the plug?
Sky Sports' Ron Walker:
"Bayern were only four points off the top of the Bundesliga with plenty of time to improve, and riding high in their Champions League group, but there's a lot more to Niko Kovac's dismissal than the numbers.
"After all, Kovac held onto his job a year ago when his Bayern side trailed Borussia Dortmund by nine points, but was given a stay of execution and rewarded the board by leading the club to the domestic double.
"But patience ran out at the Allianz Arena with the feeling increasingly clear that he could not get the best out of a talented squad, with marquee summer signing Philippe Coutinho in particular panned for his performances in recent weeks.
"Kovac's line-up for Saturday's 5-1 thrashing at Eintracht Frankfurt was criticised by Sky in Germany expert and Bayern legend Lothar Matthaus with a number of players played out of position. "With that, the coach has to expect consequences," he said.
"Given the chance, perhaps the now-departed head coach would have turned things round again. But with the hierarchy seemingly convinced he had lost the support of the players, his days were always numbered."
