Manchester United are set to speak with Luis Enrique this week about the prospect of him becoming their next permanent manager.
After talking to Ajax boss Erik ten Hag last week, United will continue the process of interviewing candidates by speaking to Spain boss Enrique, as well as Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is set to leave the French club this summer and be available for nothing.
But while Ten Hag and Pochettino are the favourites, with the Dutchman currently having the edge over the former Tottenham boss, former Barcelona coach Enrique is considered an unlikely option, because of his commitment to Spain.
Enrique will take Spain to the World Cup in Qatar in November and December, the timing of the tournament effectively ruling him out of the running for the United job. Having effectively written off this season back in November, by appointing Ralf Rangnick as interim boss following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United are not prepared to sabotage another campaign by waiting until next January to get Enrique.
The idea of Enrique splitting his time between the Spain job and United for the first half of next season was a non-starter for the Old Trafford hierarchy, despite the high regard they have for the 51-year-old. Despite that, United still intend to honour their stated process of speaking to all managerial candidates and will make contact with Enrique and representatives this week, with a view to concluding the search for a new boss by next month.
Even if Enrique impresses United chief executive Richard Arnold, football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher, his expected unwillingness to give up the chance of managing Spain at the World Cup is likely to rule him out of the running.
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United want to be in a position to make an announcement about the identity of their next permanent boss by the end of next month, with Ten Hag the favourite, after PSG's shock Champions League exit caused a rethink among those entrusted with recruiting the next man to try to resurrect the most successful club in English football.
Rangnick, for his part, has offered precious little detail whenever he has been asked about who will takeover from him in the Old Trafford dugout. At a press conference earlier this month the German said: "I have no idea. I am here until the end of the season and it is important to develop the players. We have had one or two meetings with the head of scouting. We have not spoken about the new manager too much."
On his appointment as interim boss Rangnick acknowledged he was eager to support United's players in the short term to lay the foundations for the next permanent manager. He said: "All my efforts will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team. Beyond that, I look forward to supporting the club's longer-term goals on a consultancy basis."
