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Ralf Rangnick close to becoming Manchester United interim manager

Ralf Rangnick is close to finalising a deal to become Manchester United's interim manager until the end of the season, Sky Sports News understands.

Discussions are ongoing with Rangnick, 63, and Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow over releasing him from his role as head of development.

Manchester United sacked former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday after a dismal run of form culminated in a 4-1 loss at Watford.

During a long managerial career, Rangnick won the UEFA Intertoto Cup with VfB Stuttgart in 2000, the German second division with Hannover 96 in 2002, and the German cup with Schalke in 2011.

His Schalke team also finished second in the Bundesliga in 2005.

More recently, the German worked as the director of football for Red Bull's teams in Salzburg and Leipzig, and is credited with the ascent of both sides.

According to Sky Sports News, negotiations between Rangnick and United include him potentially staying on for two years after the end of this year as a consultant.

After Solskjaer was sacked at the weekend, former player Michael Carrick was put in charge of the Red Devils until they found an interim manager.

He is expected to take charge of the team this weekend against league leaders Chelsea, who are coached by one of Rangnick's former students - Thomas Tuchel.

Carrick's first game, a Champions League tie against Villareal on Tuesday, ended with a 2-0 win for United.

Speaking of his future, Carrick told Sky Sports: "I didn't have to ask too many questions, it happened very quickly and this is my role for now and however long it may be. I am focused on the next few days and whatever goes on after that will go on after that.

"We need to be stable and together which we showed (against Villarreal). We have got a game behind us now so it's very different talking now than it was Sunday afternoon when everything was quite fresh.

"Hopefully I have already given them (the players) to an extent what we need and made them aware of what we expect. I expect the players to give their best and try their best. I say the same to my children."

A permanent manager is expected to be appointed in the summer, with Paris Saint-Germain's Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax's Erik ten Hag in contention.

As well as Tuchel, Rangnick is credited with influencing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann.

He is credited with championing the "gegenpressing" or "counter-pressing" seen in Klopp's Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool teams.

After working with the Red Bull teams in Germany and Austria, he moved to Russia at the start of this season.