Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui appears to have ruled himself out of the running to become the next Manchester United manager.
Lopetegui has been under consideration to manage United since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November but the Spaniard has said there is 'no doubt' he will remain at Sevilla next season.
"The [speculation], I can't help it," Lopetegui told El Chiringuito. "I am where I want to be. Continue on the Sevilla bench next season? I have no doubt."
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Cristiano Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, pushed for Lopetegui to take over at United in the wake of Solskjaer's dismissal.
Lopetegui, 55, was considered an outsider to take over at United in the summer, with Erik ten Hag the preferred candidate and Mauricio Pochettino still under consideration. The Spain coach Luis Enrique is admired but not expected to abandon the national side before the World Cup begins in November.
Lopetegui came to prominence for his work with the Spain Under-21s and the national team but he was sensationally sacked on the eve of their 2018 World Cup opener against Portugal after it emerged he had agreed to become Real Madrid coach.
Madrid sacked Lopetegui after a 5-1 thrashing by Barcelona five months into his reign but he has rebuilt his career at Sevilla, whom he guided to Europa League glory in 2020, beating United in the semi-finals in Cologne.
United are not expecting anything 'imminent' concerning their managerial situation after interviewing Ajax coach Ten Hag last week.
The Manchester Evening News revealed earlier this month Ten Hag is United's preferred candidate to become their next permanent manager, edging ahead of Pochettino.
Ajax have refused to comment on Ten Hag's future and the Dutchman is out of contract in 2023. Pochettino is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was installed as the United permanent manager in the second week of the March internationals in 2019 and the MEN reported in January United intend to settle on their next manager before the end of the season.
United have effectively treated the March international fortnight as a transfer window to accelerate the process of identifying their next manager but the intention all along has been for Ralf Rangnick to see out the season as interim manager.
Ten Hag has emerged as the popular pick among United fans in recent months and Pochettino's stock has sunk after PSG collapsed from a 2-0 aggregate lead with 29 minutes remaining of their last 16 tie with Real Madrid to lose 3-2.
Ajax's Champions League elimination on the same night as United's departure from the competition two weeks ago made an approach for Ten Hag inevitable and the clubs share a warm relationship due to the presence of Edwin van der Sar, the chief executive at Ajax.
Former United goalkeeper Van der Sar offered Donny van de Beek to United in 2020 to ensure Ajax obtained a respectable fee for the playmaker amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Ajax then approached the MEN about arranging for Van der Sar to write an open letter to United fans asking them to 'take good care' of Van de Beek.
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