Manchester United will need to change transfer priorities if they can attract Thomas Tuchel

Manchester United might be in their longest spell of the season without a game but the next two weeks could yet turn out to be the most important of their campaign.

Any hope of entering the 18-day gap without a fixture in a buoyant mood was strangled by Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday, but while the players take some time off to lick their wounds club chiefs will be stepping up the search for a new manager.

By the time United return to the pitch, against Leicester City on April 2, Richard Arnold and John Murtough will expect to have a much clearer indication of who that new boss will be.

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There might not have been an announcement by then, given all of the prime candidates are currently engaged in employment elsewhere, but United will hope the path to an appointment is clear. This has long been a race headed by Paris St-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax's Erik ten Hag, but the uncertainty that continues to swirl around Chelsea has thrown the name of Thomas Tuchel into the hat.

The German remains an outsider for the post but United will be monitoring the situation and it would be foolish not to at least sound out someone who would comfortably be the best appointment. Tuchel might have loyalty to Chelsea but predicting what comes next at Stamford Bridge is impossible and for a manager of his stature that can be dangerous territory.

Tuchel has already shown he is one of the few managers out there capable of taking on Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, but if the money tap is turned off at Chelsea and key players leave, that will be harder to achieve in West London. Spending money won't be an issue at Old Trafford, it's spending it wisely that