Erik ten Hag joined Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year deal (Picture: Getty) Erik ten Hag has expressed interest in signing two of his former Manchester United players after being appointed as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen. Ten Hag was announced as the new Leverkusen manager earlier this week and takes over from Xabi Alonso, who left the German club for Real Madrid. It is Ten Hag’s first managerial role since he was sacked by Manchester United at the end of October. Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title last year and finished second behind Bayern Munich this season. But Ten Hag has a big job on his hands with Leverkusen’s squad set to be picked apart by major clubs this summer. Liverpool are working on a big-money deal for Florian Wirtz while the Premier League champions are also expected to sign Jeremie Frimpong. In another blow to Ten Hag, Leverkusen vice-captain Jonathan Tah’s move to Bayern Munich was confirmed on Thursday. Florian Wirtz is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen (Picture: Getty) Wirtz’s imminent departure will force Bayer Leverkusen to bolster Ten Hag’s attacking options and two Manchester United players have been ‘discussed internally’ as options. German outlet Kicker claim Ten Hag is interested in signing Antony and Alejandro Garnacho from his former club. Antony enjoyed a much-needed revival during his loan spell at Real Betis but it remains to be seen whether his form in Spain has earned him another chance at Old Trafford. The Brazilian was one of Betis’ most influential players in the second-half of the season but struggled in their Conference League final defeat to Chelsea. Erik ten Hag brought Antony to Manchester United (Picture: Getty) It was Ten Hag who sanctioned Manchester United’s £82m move for Antony back in 2022 before the 25-year-old flopped in the Premier League. Garnacho, meanwhile, has been told by Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim that he can leave the club this summer. Chelsea and Napoli have registered interest in the Argentina international, who is valued at around £50m. While ex-Ajax boss Ten Hag admires both Antony and Garnacho, Kicker claim a Bayer Leverkusen deal for either appears unlikely at this stage given the numbers involved. Ten Hag during his Bayer Leverkusen unveiling (Picture: Getty) Leverkusen also admire departing Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki but also face an uphill battle in that transfer race given the interest from Manchester City. Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his time in charge of Manchester United but was sacked with the team just 14th in the Premier League. The Red Devils were expected to improve under Portuguese title winner Amorim but in fact went backwards, finishing 15th in the English top-flight. Ten Hag described Bayer Leverkusen as ‘one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe’ after his appointment on a two-year deal. ‘I’ve come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years,’ he said. ‘It’s an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team.’ Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes added: ‘With Erik ten Hag, we have brought in an experienced coach with impressive success on the pitch. ‘With three league titles and two domestic cup wins, he and Ajax dominated Dutch football from 2018 to 2022. ‘And Erik demonstrated his quality as a coach with the ensuing success at Manchester United under difficult circumstances at times.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.