Man Utd believe a pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino in the middle of the season would’ve proved ultimately fruitless, according to reports.
Instead, the Red Devils have reportedly chosen to appoint former RB Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick as interim manager until the end of the season with the German then acting as a consultant for a further two years.
The appointment has not been officially announced by Man Utd with Rangnick waiting to get a work permit before he can take over.
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The Premier League club have identified the German, who is currently the director of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow, as their short-term successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Coach Michael Carrick took charge for Tuesday’s Champions League game at Villarreal but the club want to bring in a more experienced figure until the end of the season. They then intend to make a permanent appointment in the summer.
Rangnick has a strong reputation in the modern game and his style has influenced the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, managers at Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.
The Athletic claims that the former Leipzig coach will ‘assess the shape of his support team’ when he takes over.
The report adds that Rangnick ‘is also being allowed to add a couple of his own trusted assistants. A video analyst is understood to be one Rangnick request, which aligns with United’s desires in any case.’
Pochettino remains a candidate for the permanent position in the summer but The Athletic has explained in detail why the Argentine could not be considered sooner.
The report continues:
‘Mauricio Pochettino’s openness to joining United now did not alter intentions at Old Trafford, with executives aware of Paris Saint-Germain’s stance over the manager.
‘PSG were adamant about keeping the Argentine, although well-placed sources suggest they might have been brought to the table had United placed £15 million on the table. United were unwilling to enter a protracted episode at this stage of the campaign and one senior figure told confidantes there was a financial concern.
‘Sources close to the club insisted there was “no chance” of United getting Pochettino out of France in the immediate future. United felt the noise around Pochettino becoming manager in the immediate term this week was coming from elsewhere, and PSG felt the same.
‘Yet Pochettino’s employers were not thrilled with the way the episode distracted from a major Champions League game (they lost 2-1 to Manchester City) and, at a time the Parisians were hoping he would demonstrate greater commitment, he has further exasperated a hierarchy that was already less wedded to his performance as manager.
‘He remains a key target for the summer and should he fail to win the Champions League, PSG are increasingly expected to sanction an exit at a reduced cost.’
Carrick will continue as caretaker boss this weekend as Man Utd travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea with the Red Devils looking to improve their fortunes in the Premier League.
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