Manchester United's search for a new manager is officially underway.
The Red Devils are looking to appoint a permanent boss for next season with interim boss Ralf Rangnick in charge until the summer.
The German is set to take up a two-year consultancy role as the Old Trafford hierarchy look for his successor.
And The Athletic claim the process has already begun to give the individual as much time as possible to prepare for the upcoming campaign. United's shortlist of candidates are finalised with preliminary talks set to go ahead.
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax boss Erik ten Hag are two names that have been linked with the job but the report states discussions are potentially difficult and sensitive given that they're both currently in work.
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Mirror Sport revealed that Pochettino is the leading contender to take over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick in the summer - and United are confident they can land him.
Pochettino is likely to leave Paris this summer and has made no secret of his desire to return to the Premier League.
The general consensus from within the United dressing room is they would like the former Tottenham boss to be in charge.
And if he does make the move to Manchester he will look to reunite with Harry Kane, with who he formed a successful partnership at Spurs, according to The Telegraph.
Kane expressed his desire to leave Spurs in the summer as Manchester City tried to prise him away from his boyhood club.
But Daniel Levy refused to sell his star man unless a bid of £150million arrived at his doorstep.
Kane will have two years left on his current deal in the summer and wants to assess the north London club's future before deciding on his future.
The England captain rejected a lucrative content extension during City's failed pursuit of the striker, but Antonio Conte's men have no plans of tabling another offer given Kane's current stance.
Spurs would like to tie down Kane to a long-term deal but understand that the onus is on the player.
If Conte's men prove they can challenge for silverware beyond 2024, something which is a priority for Kane, it's not outwith the realms of possibility that he will commit his future to the club.
If Kane wants to leave in the summer, however, and Levy does not grant his wish, he will resist the chairman's potential attempts to cash in on his prized asset in 2023 and instead walk away as a free agent in 2024.
Kane blew the Premier League title race wide open as he scored the winning goal against Manchester City as Spurs shocked the champions with a 3-2 victory at the Etihad.
