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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Ralf Rangnick makes Manchester United transfer admission over Champions League qualifying

Ralf Rangnick does not believe Manchester United's pull in the transfer market will be adversely affected by their probable failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Rangnick has all but written off United's lingering chances of finishing fourth after three defeats in their last four Premier League games, with four more fixtures still to play. United are six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

Lee Grant, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani are all certain to leave United as they are out of contract in June and several players under contract are open to leaving.

Read more: Six United players ruled out vs Chelsea

United are expected to invest heavily in the summer to underpin their squad rebuild but interim manager Rangnick believes Bruno Fernandes's recent renewal highlights the club's allure, despite a dismal season.

"Of course, it would be better if we played Champions League next season but this also affects other clubs, it's not only a problem only Manchester United has," Rangnick said.

"The renewal of the contract of Bruno showed it is possible this club is an attractive club, with a new manager, a new approach, in the way he wants to play, this is still a massively interesting club.

"And I look forward to helping Erik and everyone at the club to get the best and change the whole approach next season so Manchester United can be a top club again."

United host Chelsea on Thursday night in their penultimate home game of the season before the visit of Brentford on Monday. United travel to Brighton on Saturday week and then have a 15-day gap until their final fixture at Crystal Palace.

"Obviously, if results are not going well and we lost three of the last four games, this always means that the morale, energy in the locker room isn't as good as it would be if we had won those four games," Rangnick explained.

"Still we have to perform, this is what we're getting paid for, it's important for players, now knowing who the new manager will be, to perform and to show in front of 75,000 tomorrow we are able to beat a team like Chelsea.

"This is our job, this is what everyone has to do and this is what we have been working for all week in preparation for the game."

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