Telles: We have to focus on fixing this season

Alex Telles feels his Manchester United team-mates cannot get distracted by reports Erik ten Hag is on the verge of becoming the club’s new permanent manager, as correcting the current campaign is more important than what happens next season.

Only the formalities remain before the Ajax boss is confirmed as Ralf Rangnick's successor, ousting Mauricio Pochettino for the Old Trafford job.

The noise around the impending appointment has been relentless, but Telles rejected the idea it has played a part in United's terrible form, which saw them suffer a third defeat in five matches against relegation-battling Everton.

"No, I don't think it influences us because we know what we have to do," he told Sky Sports. "There are people at the club working on the new manager - but that's for next season. And next season depends on what we do in these remaining games, so we need to stay focused.

"We can't think about who the next manager will be, we need to think about working hard in our next game."

There is a swell of negativity surrounding United given their Champions League aims are on the ropes, with supporter group The 1958 calling for an anti-Glazer protest outside Old Trafford ahead of Saturday's hosting of Norwich.

The club's ownership is not the sole target of disapproval, with the squad heavily lambasted on account of underwhelming displays and stories being leaked that promote division.

But Telles insists the external view of the team is not aligned with his reality. "Everyone in the dressing room really wants to win," the left-back said.

"No player at this club doesn't have this desire. We know about our responsibilities - we have families, we have dreams, we have objectives.

"We want to do the work, not talk and turn this