Manchester United can use Ralf Rangnick plan to make Luis Enrique appointment

The race to be the next Manchester United manager is headed by two candidates. Mauricio Pochettino has long been admired by Old Trafford bosses and his union with Paris Saint-Germain doesn't look like a match made in heaven, while Erik ten Hag's sterling work at Ajax is impossible to avoid and the time could be right this summer to move to a bigger club.

Pochettino has the backing of United's players and Premier League experience on his CV. Ten Hag is popular with interim manager and soon-to-be consultant Ralf Rangnick and his style of football with Ajax has made him desirable to large parts of the fanbase.

Those two have headed the shortlist for a while because of their potential availability this summer, even if both have contracts running until 2023. Pochettino could be under pressure in Paris if he loses the Champions League last-16 tie to Real Madrid and Ten Hag must have aspirations of stepping up from life at Holland's dominant club.

Those aren't the only names on the shortlist at Old Trafford, however. Brendan Rodgers' chances of landing an upgrade on Leicester City have disappeared this season, but Spain boss Luis Enrique has always been popular, if seemingly unattainable.

Enrique joked last year that reports linking him with the United job must have emerged on April Fool's Day - which is one way to shut down a story - and the presence of a World Cup in the winter of this year has always made an appointment almost impossible this summer. Spain's World Cup preparations were wrecked in 2018 when one manager left for an attractive club job on the eve of the tournament, it's hard to envisage a scenario where that happens again.

Enrique has done an excellent job in charge of the national team, introducing a