Erik ten Hag is reportedly keen to retain Eric Ramsay - the final coach appointed by Ole Gunner Solksjaer - as part of his Manchester United backroom staff despite interest from Barnsley.
A number of changes have already been made to United's staffing set-up since the Dutchman's eagerly-anticipated arrival at the end of the season just gone. The 52-year-old has brought assistant Mitchell van der Gaag with him from Ajax while Sir Alex Ferguson 's former No.2 Steve McClaren has also completed an Old Trafford return.
More changes are expected to follow in the coming weeks as Ten Hag continues to craft his perfect support team, but one key figure who looks set to be retained despite interest from elsewhere is Ramsay. The man who proved to be Solskjaer's final staffing appointment is being hotly pursued by Barnsley as they seek to solve their managerial crisis.
Despite links to the Tykes, United are understood to have no intention of letting Ramsay go. According to Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils are aware of Barnsley's interest in the coach, with the South Yorkshire club believed to have added the aspiring 30-year-old to their managerial shortlist.
However, United will reportedly resist all approaches. Barnsley remain on the look out for a new manager having sacked Poya Asbaghi back in April, a day after the club's relegation from the Championship to League One was confirmed.
The highly-rated Ramsay was appointed at Old Trafford last July, with a focus on overseeing the club's set-pieces and technical skills. The coach, who was hired after impressing during his time with Chelsea's Under-23s at Stamford Bridge, then saw his role tweaked following Ralf Rangnick's arrival.
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The Athletic reported back at the turn of the year that Ramsay, whose previous responsibilities included taking charge of certain training drills, had seen opportunities to work on set-pieces reduced under the German. Despite that, he had found himself entrusted with other responsibilities at the club since departures to the likes of Michael Carrick, Martyn Pert and Kieran McKenna.
Under Rangnick, Ramsay was permitted to help warm defenders up before matches - a role previous filled by McKenna before he departed to become manager of League One outfit Ipswich Town, in a move which saw Pert follow to become his assistant manager. Meanwhile, Carrick left after a three-game stint as caretaker manager in the wake of Solskjaer's November sacking.
McKenna departed in December after he expressed his interest in taking over at Ipswich, but should Barnsley make an approach for Ramsay, it is thought United will hold discussions in order to dissuade the coach from leaving. The Manchester club have experienced a significant shake-up since Solksjaer's sacking.
His successor Rangnick wasn't afforded the opportunity to bring in his own preferred team however, as the United interim was hindered by visa requirements and joining midway through last campaign. The German did however recruit the coaching trio of Chris Armas, Ewan Sharp and sports psychologist Sascha Lense, but all three have since departed Old Trafford.
Mike Phelan was retained following Solskjaer's dismissal and Rangnick sought to use him as an experienced head to lean on at the club. However, the 59-year-old has since been told Ten Hag deems him surplus to requirements and his impending Old Trafford exit is currently being finalised.
In addition to Ramsay, existing goalkeeper coaches Richard Hartis and Craig Mawson are also expected to be retained. At least one of the pair is understood to have made enquiries with clubs elsewhere, amid fears they would become part of the United's recent coaching exodus, however both are thought to be in the Dutchman's plans.
