Manchester United are set to step up their chase for a new permanent manager next month and look set to take the advice of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ralf Rangnick was named as the interim replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November but a long-term successor has yet to be named.
The German is set to be in charge for the remainder of this season, before taking on a two-year consultancy role at Old Trafford.
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Rangnick has hinted he would be open to extending his stay in the dugout, having picked up 17 points from a possible 24 on offer in the Premier League.
Speaking back in December, he said: “The people with whom I have spoken have been very clear we are speaking of a six-month role.
“We have never spoken about what will happen in the summer. If they will then speak with me about that, we will see.
“If everything goes well, I might make the same recommendation as I did at RB Leipzig that it will be good to keep working for one year – but it is all hypothetical.”
However, football director John Murtough is already looking to the future, with the Athletic claiming a four-man shortlist has already been drawn up.
The report suggests that the process to make the appointment will begin over the next few weeks and that Erik ten Hag, Mauricio Pochettino, Julen Lopetegui and Luis Enrique are in the mix.
After struggling under Solskjaer, United are looking for a coach who has extensive experience of working at major European clubs.
Mirror Football revealed last month that Ajax boss Ten Hag has moved ahead of Pochettino to become the favourite for the job.
Ten Hag has helped transform a number of players that have struggled elsewhere into genuine Champions League contenders, completing their group stage campaign with a 100 percent record.
But Pochettino – currently with Paris Saint-Germain – Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui and Spain manager Luis Enrique all have a chance of landing the top gig.
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Ronaldo will be eagerly awaiting developments after rumours suggested he was unhappy with the club’s direction under Solskjaer.
It was claimed that the 36-year-old’s agent Jorge Mendes spoke to bosses after Solskjaer’s final game in charge, making it clear changes should be made.
According to reports which surfaced shortly after the Norwegian’s dismissal, Ronaldo identified Luis Enrique as the man he believed would be best suited to take the club forward.
With Enrique now still said to be on United’s four-man shortlist, it would be fair to assume he would still be his choice from the options on the table.
While at Real Madrid, Ronaldo came up against Enrique’s Barcelona side which won the treble in 2015 and is fresh off the back of guiding Spain to the World Cup in Qatar.
Although not at the front of the queue at present, Enrique should have ample time to impress United chiefs, who plan on taking a meticulous approach to hiring their new head coach.
Ronaldo’s contract is set to run until the summer of 2023, with the option of extending the arrangement for a further 12 months beyond that.
He has made it public in recent weeks that he is concerned about United’s position in the league, wanting to compete for titles, rather than top four berths.