Manchester United plan to ramp up their search for a new permanent manager in the wake of Ralf Rangnick's struggles since taking over as interim boss.
The German was appointed on a temporary basis in early December, tasked with steadying the ship and turning things around before someone new takes the reins come the end of the season.
However, things have not entirely panned out the way many at the top of the United hierarchy would have hoped since Rangnick took his place in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
The Manchester Evening News report that United could appoint Rangnick's successor before the end of the current campaign.
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Things have developed quicker than expected in the race for a new appointment and as such a new face could come through the door well before the opening of the summer transfer window on July 1.
United's Director of football John Murtough is spearheading the operation, with Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag the two frontrunners for the job.
Leicester City's Brendan Rodgers is also viewed as a possible alternative.
A source close to the club has revealed how United are keen to avoid in a similar situation to the one Tottenham found themselves in last summer, where they took more than two months to appoint Jose Mourinho's successor.
United enjoy a positive working relationship with Ajax after the transfer of Donny van de Beek and may seek to use that to their advantage when inquiring about Ten Hag's availability.
Former RB Leipzig boss Rangnick has been at the helm for eight games, winning four, drawing three and losing just once in the process.
United's last two league games have seen them pick up just one point after suffering their first home defeat by Wolves for 40 years earlier this month, before throwing away a two-goal lead at Villa Park to draw 2-2.
Following the capitulation against Steven Gerrard's side, Rangnick pointed the finger at his own players.
"Extremely [frustrating]. It's very difficult to find some positives after these 90, 95 minutes. We had spells where I felt it was our best game since I came here," the 63-year-old explained.
"We still gave away too many balls at times and in the last 15 minutes we were not as compact as we were before and therefore conceded the two goals.
"In the first half-hour they didn't have a shot on our goal. In the last 15 minutes before half time the pressure was higher, we were not as compact, we were not as courageous to attack forward and to step up.
"After that [second goal] you just have to take those three points back home. As of now, it feels like a defeat to be honest."
