Ralf Rangnick’s four-point plan to help Man United emulate rivals’ success in the transfer market

Ralf Rangnick has advised Manchester United’s board that it may take up to three transfer windows to solve the club’s crisis, but only if they recruit according to a defined playing philosophy and address the squad’s conspicuous lack of physicality and aggression.

Rangnick was brought in as an interim manager for the rest of the season in November, with the intention of giving the German a consultant job at the end of the season. It remains to be seen whether the 63-year-old will take on that role, what it will entail if he does, and how it will operate in connection to football director John Murtough’s responsibilities.

With that in mind, the former RB Leipzig sports director claimed that after four months in charge of the first team, he has already made a number of recommendations to the Old Trafford leadership ahead of the commencement of a massive, long-term renovation. According to The Telegraph, they are as follows:

Imitate Manchester City and Liverpool by recruiting unconditionally to the incoming manager’s known playing style.

After establishing that this squad is too soft physically, prioritize physical, aggressive players in the first instance.

Before signing, a player’s “DNA” is thoroughly profiled.

Accepting that it could take three transfer windows to correct if the plan is implemented

This is why bringing in Rangnick as an interim manager first was such a fantastic idea, as he gets a thorough insight into the squad and then knows how to fix the difficulties moving ahead once he is promoted. The issue with Manchester United right now is that it is not certain that this is their thinking.

According to the Telegraph, Erik ten Hag – who has a release clause in his contract with Ajax worth just over £1.7 million – is the current favorite ahead of PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino to take over as United’s permanent manager when Rangnick’s interim role expires at the conclusion of the season.

With the German in charge behind the scenes, it remains to be seen whether the United hierarchy would pay attention to his ideas. United have shown in the past that they want things done quickly; will they have the patience to stick to the current manager’s plan?

That remains to be seen, but from the outside, they appear to have no choice because the current method is failing.