sport news Jaap Stam DENIES reports he's in talks over a Man United return... as he backs ... trends now

Jaap Stam has denied reports that he's in talks to return to Man United - but admitted he's more than willing to help out at Old Trafford if called upon.

On Tuesday, Italian publication TuttoMercatoWeb published a story saying contact had been made with Stam over a role that would see him serve as a link between the United technical staff and the club.

But in an exclusive interview with Mail Sport later that night, Stam rubbished those claims.

'We're not in talks... I haven't heard anything about it,' he said from New York City's Smithfield Hall bar.

He continued, 'Because I'm over here [in the United States]... so I haven't had any contact with people or whatever.'

Nonetheless, Stam, who recently signed on to coach amateur Dutch side DOS Kampen (his boyhood club), refused to rule out a move to United.

'If they want me to help them in any way as well, then I'm always ready to do so,' he said.

Of course, United currently have another Dutchman in their dugout in Erik ten Hag, and Stam believes it would be a 'wise decision' to give his countrymen a third season at the helm.

In Ten Hag's second season in charge, United finished eighth - the club's worst league finish in 34 years - and registered a -1 goal difference. 

Ten Hag's man management skills were also called into question as he feuded with Jadon Sancho after publicly calling out his training performances, while the club's disorganized defense saw goalie Andre Onana face the third-most shots among Premier League goalkeepers.

Nonetheless, Stam believes ten Hag deserves more time - amid the club being linked to Mauricio Pochettino after his departure from Chelsea.

'If you're talking about tactics, about how to play football, and what he wants, I think ten Hag is a good manager,' Stam said. 'And he knows what to do.'