Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick may be switching roles at the end of the season, but his new job can give Erik ten Hag a boost in the transfer market.
Rangnick was always going to be stepping down at the end of the season, but it's now been confirmed that he will take on a senior consultancy role at the club once Ten Hag takes charge. But that won't be his sole duty, as Rangnick has also been approached by the Austrian FA.
As well as being an advisor at United, Rangnick will manage the Austrian national team. And his new role may hand Ten Hag with a transfer boost ahead of the summer.
Ten Hag is expected to be backed heavily by the United board to reinvest in the squad over the next few transfer windows, and it will need replenishing with players also tipped to leave. Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani are all expected to leave this summer, and Nemanja Matic has also confirmed that he will depart at the end of the season.
Securing a new midfielder has already been highlighted as United's main transfer priority, and with four more expected to leave, it's vital that Ten Hag brings in the right players in that area. And an ideal candidate may be even more likely to join United now, thanks to Rangnick.
United have been linked with RB Leipzig star Konrad Laimer, who has already worked under Rangnick, and will join up with him once more on international duty. Laimer joined Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg in 2017 when Rangnick was their sporting director and has been mightily impressive in the Bundesliga.
And Bild claims that United have targeted Laimer to bolster their midfield, although any deal will have to be authorised by Ten Hag. But with United already linked, and the midfielder set to reunite with Rangnick, the deal is as plausible as ever.
Laimer is valued at £23million according to Transfermarkt, and with his contract expiring at the end of next season, United won't have to pay over the odds to sign him. At the age of 29, Laimer is also in his prime, making him the ideal candidate for a quick fix while Ten Hag tackles a long-term rebuild.
Paris Saint Germain have also expressed interest according to Manchester Evening News, but Rangnick's influence may be enough to persuade Laimer to choose United. And following the announcement that Rangnick would oversee two roles, he said: "I’m really looking forward to playing my part in helping United become a real force again."
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Helping with a deal for Laimer may be the perfect start to Rangnick's plan, but he's promised to help Ten Hag build a 'new squad' at United, as he outlined a transfer plan. Rangnick added: "I've been talking to the board quite regularly in the past, exchanging our impressions about the current situation.
"But for me it's important that together with Erik [Ten Hag], together with the scouting department, we can build a new squad, a new group. A new group of players with quality and mentality, and then Erik with his coaching staff will be a lot better.
"Then they can lead this club into areas and where it should be. Then the supporters will want to see Manchester United."
