Rangnick insists Man Utd players are adapting to his methodsx
Manchester United are currently on the lookout for a new permanent manager ahead of next season, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick set to take up a two-year consultancy role in the summer. A number of high-profile names have been heavily linked with the Red Devils job since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was given his marching orders by the club’s hierarchy in November.
Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag are said to be two candidates on a five-man shortlist for the role at Old Trafford, according to ESPN.
There is also said to be a slight chance that Rangnick could stay on in spite of his prior agreement with United, with the German coach included as an option to manage the club on a permanent basis.
The other two candidates are not named, but the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Brendan Rodgers have also been widely linked with the job in recent months.
United chiefs are already making transfer decisions to suit their new boss, according to Fabrizio Romano, with plenty of work needing to be done in the summer market after a disappointing campaign on all fronts thus far.
Express Sport takes a look at three potential signings that each of the aforementioned managers could target in the event they are chosen to lead United in the near future.
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Three transfers each Man Utd manager target would love as Red Devils begin plans (Image: GETTY)
Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino may be inclined to move for the services of Tottenham forward Harry Kane if the 49-year-old ends up replacing Rangnick in the dugout at United.
Kane grew into one of the world’s best strikers under Pochettino’s guidance in north London but would likely cost upwards of £100million, suggesting that a deal could be tricky to engineer ahead of next season.
The Paris Saint-Germain boss may also be keen on a move for United-linked midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, a player he knows well from watching the Monaco starlet in Ligue 1.
He is also familiar with Newcastle new boy Kieran Trippier and could be tempted by a surprise move for the Magpies defender in order to strengthen his ranks at right-back.
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Erik ten Hag
United may emerge as an attractive destination for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong if Ten Hag is eventually appointed to manage the Old Trafford club.
De Jong formed a crucial part of the Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and the 24-year-old could potentially be open to reuniting with his former boss in England if the opportunity arises.
Ajax youngster Ryan Gravenberch could represent another promising midfield option for United under Ten Hag after turning plenty of heads with his assured performances over the last few months.
Meanwhile, Tottenham forward Steven Bergwijn was said to have been targeted by the Ajax boss in the January transfer window and could potentially be another one to look out for if Ten Hag gets the Red Devils job.
Ralf Rangnick
A move for RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara could be near the top of United’s to-do list if Rangnick ultimately stays on as United’s permanent manager next season.
Haidara was heavily linked with the Red Devils in January but a move for the Malian, who remains under contract until the summer of 2025, never materialised.
Rangnick is well-versed with the pool of talent from Red Bull-owned clubs and Salzburg wonderkid Karim Adeyemi is likely to be among the standout players to have caught his eye in recent years.
Meanwhile, Leipzig playmaker Christopher Nkunku could be another name on Rangnick’s shortlist after emerging as a key man for the Bundesliga heavyweights over the years.
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Three transfers each Man Utd manager target would love as Red Devils begin plans (Image: EXPRESS)
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers has been linked with the United job for some time but has regularly underlined his commitment to his role at Leicester City, suggesting that a move for his signature could be difficult.
However, if he is snapped up by United’s hierarchy ahead of next season, it seems likely that Foxes midfielder Youri Tielemans would be one of his first targets.
The Belgian maestro has blossomed under Rodgers’ guidance since joining Leicester on a permanent basis in 2019 but would undoubtedly command a hefty transfer fee.
Rodgers may also be keen on raiding the Foxes for the services of Wilfried Ndidi to shore up his deep-lying midfield ranks, while Wesley Fofana would be another shrewd acquisition for United if his current boss decides to jump ship.
Zinedine Zidane
United were said to be weighing up the idea of appointing Zidane to replace Solskjaer before eventually deciding to snap up Rangnick on a temporary basis towards the end of last year.
The Frenchman has been linked with a future managerial role at PSG in recent months, but a potential move to Old Trafford does not appear to be entirely off the cards as of yet.
Zidane is familiar with a number of Real Madrid stars from his time in charge of the Spanish giants, with a move for right-back Dani Carvajal able to provide United with some additional trophy-winning experience and strengthen a weak position in the process.
Karim Benzema would also be a top signing for the Red Devils in spite of his age, while Isco could do a job in a back-up role after finding himself in and out of the Real Madrid team in recent seasons.
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