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Less than a week after dismissing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United might have found their next manager. After a whirlwind search that saw the club interview five managers for the interim role, The Red Devils have reached a deal with veteran German coach Ralf Rangnick.
Although official confirmation from the club is pending, reports have generated excitement among the club's fanbase, and for good reason. Once Rangnick's role as interim comes to an end, he will reportedly remain with Manchester United as a consultant for a two-year span.
It is a positive sign that the English giants, who have long been criticised for their failure to appoint a Director of Football, are finally moving in the right direction.
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Manchester United's current squad isn't particularly well-suited to Ralf Rangnick's philosophy
'The Professor', as Rangnick is known in his native Germany, was one of the pioneers of geggepressing. The high-octane brand of football has been popularised by numerous successful coaches, including Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. It is characterised by hard running, constant pressure outside of possession and pressing high up the pitch.
The press, which has become a hallmark of the Premier League's elite teams - Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City - is a key aspect Manchester United are poor at. Ralf Rangnick has a job on his hands. Fortunately, the timing of his arrival means he could look to add players to his squad sooner rather than later.
Here are five players Manchester United could target under Ralf Rangnick:
#5 Max Aarons (Norwich City)
Manchester United tried to sign Kieran Trippier in the summer transfer window, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka's miserable form this season shows us exactly why. Compared to their colleagues around the Premier League, including Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Ben Chilwell, Manchester United's full-backs have been found badly wanting.
At 21, Max Aarons is a much younger alternative to the 31-year-old Trippier. The Norwich youngster was the subject of intense speculation earlier this summer, with Arsenal reportedly interested in him. Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund is another intriguing choice. But if Norwich City do get relegated from the Premier League, the English youngster would be a more viable target.
The 2021-22 campaign has got off to a torrid start for Wan-Bissaka, who hasn't registered any goal contribution in 16 appearances. He hasn't fared much better at the other end either, with Manchester United keeping just three clean sheets since the start of the season.
#4 Maxence Lacroix (Wolfsburg)
FIFA 22 enthusiasts will be familiar with Wolfsburg's 21-year-old French centre-back, but Maxence Lacroix is not just a video game sensation. He burst onto the scene for Wolfsburg in 2020-21, making 36 appearances across competitions, as the club finished fourth in the Bundesliga and secured Champions League football.
Manchester United, meanwhile, could need a new centre-back soon, with Eric Bailly increasingly unhappy at the club. More importantly, Ralf Rangnick's philosophy involves a high defensive line and requires mobile defenders. Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, in particular, are not renowned for their pace.
In a web session with The Coaches' Voice in September earlier this year, Rangnick said:
"Jurgen (Klopp) and myself, we like to press high. If you watched yesterday's Manchester City vs Liverpool game (2-2 draw), especially in the first half hour, Liverpool were trying to press high with the back four almost on the halfway line. This is pretty similar to my approach."
It is difficult to imagine Harry Maguire fulfilling such a role. So Rangnick might be tempted to use his well-established network back home to raid the German club. Manchester United also have a sizeable French-speaking contingent at the club, and Lacroix could fit right in alongside his compatriot Raphael Varane.
#3 Renato Sanches (Lille)
It feels like Renato Sanches has already been around forever. Once linked with Manchester United, the former Golden Boy award winner played a crucial role in Portugal's Euro 2016 win.
He was then written off as a flop after disappointing spells with Bayern Munich and Swansea City. Sanches is still just 24, and has rebuilt his reputation after helping Lille stun PSG and win the 2020-21 Ligue 1 title.
The all-action midfielder recently spoke candidly about his future, and believes he is ready to make another big move. He told L'Equipe:
“Maybe Milan and Arsenal are interested, but I don’t know. I know which clubs are calling and which are not, but I can’t tell now. I know I’m ready. If an offer comes in, I’ll find out what’s best for me. Many clubs were interested this summer, when I sustained the injury. It was all done with Barcelona, I think it all collapsed because of the injury."
Manchester United's midfield woes are well documented. Scott McTominay and Fred have come under intense criticism this season, while Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard are already halfway out the door. Although Sanches' numbers don't pop off the charts (one goal and four assists in 29 appearances last season), his physical attributes are excellent.
Industrious and boasting a high motor, Sanches is Rangnick's kind of player, and would add some steel and solidity to a lightweight Manchester United midfield. However, The Red Devils will have to battle a host of Europe's top clubs for Sanches' signature, with Liverpool reportedly the latest team to join the race.
#2 Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Borussia Monchengladbach are running the risk of losing their star Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria for free at the end of the ongoing season. The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, and is ready for a bigger challenge.
His contract situation means Zakaria is reportedly available for a cut-price fee in January, and could become Ralf Rangnick's first signing at Manchester United. Max Eberl, Monchengladbach's Director of Sport, recently told Sport Bild:
"If he (Zakaria), or any other player, tell us that they want to leave, then we will sort it out. It would be crazy to fight someone if they want to go."
Tall, powerful and strong in the tackle, Denis Zakaria would be a quick fix to Manchester United's long-standing hole in defensive midfield. The Red Devils have been desperately craving a player who can sit in front of the back four and shield the centre-backs. Zakaria is entering his prime, wants to make a move, and is available immediately at a good price, making this transfer a no-brainer.
The Swiss international has spent the last few years in the Bundesliga, and the German connection will undoubtedly be appealing to Rangnick. Despite a stacked CV, the coach has spent most of his 30-year career with German teams.
#1 Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
It wouldn't be a surprise to see Manchester United bring in multiple midfielders over the next two transfer windows. Apart from the aforementioned Pogba and Lingard, 33-year-olds Matic and Mata are also approaching the end of their stints at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are extremely thin in the middle of the park, and need reinforcements quickly.
Fortunately, Ruben Neves is another viable midfield target for Ralf Rangnick and co. Neves was reportedly close to joining The Red Devils earlier this year, but Manchester United refused to pay Wolves' £40 million asking price. The 24-year-old enjoyed an excellent 2020-21 season, finishing with 65 interceptions (third-most) and 86 tackles (sixth-most) in the Premier League.
More importantly, Ralf Rangnick's brand of proactive, attacking football focuses on moving the ball up the pitch, and frowns on unnecessary backward passes.
"I am not a big fan of square and back passes. I do not like backpasses to the goalkeeper, and neither do I like square passes," explained Ralf Rangnick.
Unlike Zakaria, Ruben Neves is an elite passer, especially of long balls that Manchester United could use to bring Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood into play.
At 24, Ruben Neves has his best years ahead of him. He could form a potent partnership with the other Portuguese superstars at Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo.
