Manchester United decided to move on from Ralf Rangnick in 2022 but could already see the German land one of the biggest jobs in the game.
The 2021-22 season was a turbulent one for Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the club was a success on a personal level but the wider team performances were poor.
Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane failed to really repay their huge fees and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was axed in the November.
In came Ralf Rangnick as an interim boss with the idea of moving him into a consultancy role at the end of the campaign.
Erik ten Hag arrived but Rangnick was shuffled out of the Old Trafford doors not long after claiming that the club needed ‘open-heart surgery’.
Rangnick has probably been proven right since those comments and he now finds himself on the brink of a huge move.
The German has worked wonders in charge of the Austrian national team, guiding them to Euro 2024.
Rangnick is now on the verge of becoming the new Bayern Munich boss with Fabrizio Romano claiming that a deal is ‘really close’.
Rangnick is poised to replace Thomas Tuchel and land one of the biggest jobs in football; almost certainly the biggest job of his career.
Rangnick could scupper Dayot Upamecano hopes
Few could have predicted this kind of trajectory for Rangnick when he left United.
Rangnick’s reputation is back on the rise again and his imminent move to the Allianz Arena could actually kibosh a potential United move.
Reports in March suggested that United have an interest in signing Bayern centre back Dayot Upamecano this summer.
Bayern are allegedly ready to sell £37million defender Upamecano this summer but if anybody could change that stance, it may just be Rangnick.
Rangnick was the man who lured Upamecano to Red Bull Salzburg, convincing him to snub a move to United in the process.
Rangnick served as director of football for borsht Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig, eventually sanctioning Upamecano’s switch to Germany in 2017.
The former United boss clearly believes in Upamecano and has done for a long time, even backing him for his eventual move to Bayern.
It would be a surprise for Rangnick to come in and then axe Upamecano, given his admiration for the defender in years gone by.
Maybe Rangnick and Upamecano will both feel that the time is right for a change, but Rangnick’s arrival may just throw a spanner in the works for United.
Manchester United centre back links
United may well see Upamecano become a tricky transfer target this summer but there are a whole host of other options being linked.
The main name right now is that of Jarrad Branthwaite.
United are allegedly ‘favourites’ to sign Branthwaite this summer with Everton’s financial problems presenting a real chance of a deal.
Tall, homegrown and full of potential, Branthwaite ticks the boxes for United as Ineos looks to revolutionise the club.
Other homegrown defenders have been linked too; Wolverhampton Wanderers ace Max Kilman and Fulham contract rebel Tosin Adarabioyo are both on the radar.
United could look a little further afield too; RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba and Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni have been mentioned in recent weeks.
We would anticipate at least one centre back signing arriving, possibly two if there is enough money in the budget.
Upamecano may just be one name on the radar for United and as Rangnick weighs up his future, United will not be afraid of moving on to other targets.