Manchester United looking to exploit Sir Alex Ferguson's personal relationship with Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to hire him for the short-term appears to go against Ralf Rangnick's wishes.
The Red Devils' search for their next manager is officially underway with Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag headlining their five-man shortlist.
The Paris Saint-Germain boss is the leading contender for the position, but with the Argentine currently in work and the difficulty of negotiating with a manager mid-season, United have a contingency plan in place.
The Red Devils are looking at short-term options and Ancelotti is under consideration after Ferguson recommended the Italian to new United CEO Richard Arnold, according to ESPN.
Arnold has sought advice from Ferguson since taking over from Ed Woodward earlier this year.
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Ancelotti has a "close personal relationship" with Ferguson and reckons the former Chelsea boss would be the perfect candidate if Pochettino, who he is also an admirer of, is unattainable.
It's not the first time Ferguson has interfered with United's search for a new manager as he suggested David Moyes as a suitable successor upon his departure.
That was a move that didn't work out and that's been the common theme with United since Ferguson's exit as they've struggled to fill the void left by the legendary manager.
United have tried to use his success as a blueprint moving forward and Ferguson has almost operated as a consultant, influencing the appointment of managers and signing players.
Ferguson's hold over the club and United's inability to move on was epitomised when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed he did not park in the designated manager's parking space as he believes it still belongs to Ferguson.
"It just doesn't feel right parking there," Solskjaer is said to have told colleagues. "It's still the gaffer's place."
No matter what they've done, it's not gone according to plan and it seems like they are about to make the same mistake once again if they take Fergie's advice about Ancelotti on board.
United would be going against Ralf Rangnick's wishes too as the interim boss made it clear when he was appointed that the club needed to find a new pathway out of Ferguson's shadow.
Speaking at his first press conference, the German said: "Having had Sir Alex for so many years is unique and for me, it's not that unusual that after such a long and successful spell a club needs to find a new pathway."
The 63-year-old addressed some of United's post-Ferguson failings, adding: "The club has had no continuity in signing new players and sticking to the DNA of the club.
"In the future, the board members and I have the same opinion. It's important not to have many changes in management."
