Manchester United have made contact with Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi to become their next manager, according to reports in Italy.
Ralf Rangnick is currently in interim charge at Old Trafford after replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, but is likely to be replaced by a long-term successor at the end of the season.
Names such as Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag have been strongly linked with the role.
But Corriere Dello Sport claim that Inter manager Inzaghi has begun to learn English in the hope of taking a job in the Premier League.
Rangnick is believed to have given Inzaghi the green light to be his replacement when he moves into a behind-the-scenes in the summer.
Inzaghi’s Inter currently top Serie A after a fine first half of the season which has seen them lose just once.
The Nerazzurri are also through to the last-16 of the Champions League, but face a difficult task in getting past Liverpool.
Inzaghi is also believed to have attracted attention from Atletico Madrid, who are considering Diego Simeone’s role after an underwhelming La Liga campaign so far.
Simeone’s job is likely to hinge on whether they can get past United in the Champions League, having been beaten twice by Liverpool in the group stage but still scraping into the knockout rounds.
Rangnick has struggled to make the impact many thought he would at Old Trafford.
But Cristiano Ronaldo has defended the German, insisting it will take time for Rangnick’s philosophies to bed in.
Ronaldo told Sky Sports: “Since he arrived five weeks ago he changed many things. But he needs time to put his ideas across to the players.
“It takes time but I believe that he is going to do a good job. We know we aren’t playing the best football but we have many games to improve.
“Since he arrived I think in some points we are better, but he needs time.
“It’s not that easy to change the mentality of players and the way they play, the culture, the system like that. I believe that he is going to do a good job.”