CHRIS WHEELER: Manchester United are monitoring Thomas Tuchel

Manchester United have been alerted to the possibility of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel becoming available at the end of the season, and are monitoring his situation amid the growing crisis at Stamford Bridge.

United’s interim boss Ralf Rangnick was reluctant yesterday to speculate over the prospect of his old protege succeeding him. However, it is understood that, privately, Rangnick believes Tuchel could be an option as the uncertainty at Chelsea grows following the Government’s decision to sanction Roman Abramovich.

United’s hunt for a new manager is at an advanced stage, with Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag well established as favourites for the job, but it appears Tuchel could now be added to the shortlist.

The German coach, who worked with Rangnick at Ulm and Stuttgart 25 years ago, has won the Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup since taking over at Chelsea 14 months ago.

Rangnick did not want to be drawn on the possibility of Tuchel replacing him when he spoke ahead of today’s game against Tottenham at Old Trafford.

He said: ‘It doesn’t make sense at all to even think or speculate about that.

‘Yes, Thomas Tuchel is a top manager, yes I know him well, yes he was a player of mine, yes he took his first job as a coach in Stuttgart when I was the head coach.

‘He is the manager of Chelsea right now. They’re third and still in the Champions League. There are issues now around the ownership of this club, (so) to speculate about him being a candidate for the job here in the summer doesn’t make sense.’

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to rejoin the squad to face Spurs after missing last weekend’s derby defeat with what was described as a hip flexor injury, while Edinson Cavani is also fit again for the first