Manchester United chiefs have interviewed the first of four managerial targets as they ramp up the process of identifying Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's permanent successor, according to reports.
Solskjaer was sacked in November after a calamitous defeat at Watford proved one humiliation too many following a disastrous start to the season. Ralf Rangnick was brought in as the Norwegian's replacement on an interim basis until this summer, when he will move behind the scenes to adopt a consultancy role.
Meanwhile, the United hierarchy began assembling a shortlist of options to take over ahead of next season. The club have set an ambitious target of identifying their next boss by the end of March, allowing the incumbent as much time as possible to assemble their backroom team and transfer strategy in time for the window opening.
To that end, Red Devils football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher have commenced the interview process with Erik ten Hag the first to be grilled, according to the Daily Mail. The Dutchman is the bookmakers' favourite for the United job due to his eye-catching five-year stint with Ajax during which he has won four major honours.
Ten Hag meeting with Murtough and Fletcher will heighten speculation he will be the next manager at Old Trafford but the report adds this is far from a forgone conclusion. The two club chiefs completed their research process at the start of March and they remain keen to speak to at least three more candidates, namely Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui.
Paris Saint-Germain's Pochettino is regarded as Ten Hag's main rival for the United hot seat and he remains highly regarded thanks to his spell with Tottenham, even if his time in France has been troubled. Elsewhere, Enrique has a decorated CV which includes a continental treble from his time in charge of Barcelona while Lopetegui has a growing number of admirers as his Sevilla side sit second in La Liga.
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In a major update to the managerial pursuit, United are no longer believed to be targeting Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Earlier this month, it emerged the German was firmly on the club's radar after Stamford Bridge was plunged into uncertainty by Roman Abramovich's sanctioning.
However, the Red Devils have accepted it would be too difficult to prise Tuchel from their league rivals in what is a boost for Ten Hag's hopes of taking over this summer. Should Murtough and Fletcher choose to press forward and look to appoint the 52-year-old, they will need to pay a compensation fee in the region of £4million and negotiate a contract with his agent, Kees Vos.
