Ralf Rangnick has already outlined what he plans to change at Manchester United ahead of his appointment as the club’s interim manager.
According to The Athletic, the German has agreed a six-month deal to become United’s boss until the end of the season, subject to approval from his current club Lokomotiv Moscow.
The 63-year-old is understood to have rejected an initial contract offer from the Red Devils, but has now accepted improved terms.
He will take over a club in need of serious direction both on and off the pitch, something that should appeal to Rangnick if his past comments are anything to go by.
Rangnick, speaking in 2019 in response to rumours linking him with a move to Old Trafford following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, revealed his desire to influence multiple areas of any club he might join.
He told The Guardian: “I am happy where I am but if any club wanted to speak to me, the question would have to be: ‘Can I be somebody who can influence areas of development across the whole club?’
“Otherwise you are only getting half of what I am capable of.
“If, after that, you can work together in a trustworthy and respectful way, then you are more likely to be successful.”
Since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013, United have been through, including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, four permanent managers.
Rangnick spoke about the difficulty of following someone like Sir Alex and touched on the club’s underperformance, suggesting money isn’t the answer.
“It’s always difficult to follow someone like Sir Alex Ferguson, who was so successful and in place for a long time – and that’s even harder if you are often changing coaches,” Rangnick continued.
“With every coaching change, the identity changes and this is reflected in the sporting development. You can look at the money that team has had available in the last five years and say there has been an underperformance.”
The German also outlined the importance of getting things right in the transfer market.
He added: “At any club, if you cannot get the right players, then you should at least not sign the wrong ones. You are in trouble if you do that in one or two or three consecutive transfer windows.
“Club building is about building the right squad by transferring the right players away and having more than 50 per cent success rate of bringing in the right players.”