Rangnick rues lack of power at United

FROM BACK PAGE agreeing to take the reins until the end of the season.

He has been tasked with landing a top-four place and Champions League qualification.

But with United reluctant to hand money to a manager who will only be in charge for six months, sources in Germany say he feels he is working with one hand tied behind his back.

That has led to Rangnick becoming increasingly concerned about how much influence he will wield when he takes up a two-year consultancy role in the summer.

The German expected to play a key role in identifying and recruiting a new manager. And he also believed he would oversee United’s transfer business.

But it is only 10 months since John Murtough became the club’s first football director with Darren Fletcher as technical director.

Richard Arnold is set to replace Ed Woodward as chief executive next month and plans to step back from transfer negotiations. But Murtough is expected to move into that role, leaving Rangnick sidelined.

Rangnick, 63, admitted: “We had some talks about transfers last week with John Murtough, Ed and Richard.

“We spoke about it but I am not involved in that directly.”

United are looking at Mauricio Pochettino, Erik ten Hag and Brendan Rodgers as they plan for next season and beyond.

United’s hierarchy are believed to favour PSG coach Pochettino, who has experienced English football with Tottenham and Southampton. Rangnick is impressed with Ten Hag, who enjoys working under a director of football at Ajax.

Rangnick feels he does not have the personnel to overhaul United’s playing style.

Within days of his arrival, he contacted former club RB Leipzig over a £33million deal for Amadou Haidara but United have yet to bid for the Mali midfielder, 23.