The chairman of Russian giants Lokomotiv Moscow, Alexander Plutnik, has hinted that Ralf Rangnick is leaving the club to become Manchester United's new interim manager.
The German coach, as reported by the Manchester Evening News , is understood to have agreed to become United's new manager on a six-month contract, with a view to working in a consultancy role beyond that period.
Rangnick, 63, is currently the Head of Sports and Development at Lokomotiv — a position he has held since early-July — but looks set to be snatched by United in a bid to turnaround the club's' current fortunes, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking on Sunday.
United had initially believed they might be able to lure Paris Saint-Germain chief Mauricio Pochettino to the club mid-season, given the Argentine's willingness to make the switch.
However, PSG rebuffed United's first approach, meaning they reverted back to the plan of going down the interim route, which has now led them to Rangnick. Pochettino remains an option for them in the summer.
Although the deal is not yet signed, sealed and delivered, Lokomotiv chairman Plutnik has hinted that Rangnick is leaving to join United, insisting that the Russian outfit "will be fine" without him.
Speaking ahead of Lokomotiv's 3-0 Europa League defeat to Lazio on Thursday evening, he said: "Things are good. We are now focused on the game.
"We will think after the match. Everything will be fine."
Rangnick joined Lokomotiv during the summer after leaving his duties at Red Bull in 2020.
Although he enjoyed two spells as manager at RB Leipzig, Rangnick also had non-coaching roles with the club, as well as at Leipzig's sister club, Red Bull Salzburg. He was appointed Director of Football for both clubs back in 2012 and played a key role in each of their impressive developments, certainly as far as recruitment was concerned.
He played key roles in Leipzig discovering the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Timo Werner, while he helped Salzburg unearth Takumi Minamino and Erling Haaland.
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