Ralf Rangnick admits Manchester United will find it hard convincing top players to sign for them after failing to make the Champions League.
Rangnick, who will take up a two-year consultancy role when the season ends, also urged United to stop signing superstar names and focus on emerging young players.
Interim boss Rangnick acknowledged Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea now have the edge over United when it comes to signing the best players in Europe. Rangnick believes United should be signing the likes of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, but conceded rivals who can offer Champions League football have a huge advantage.
Against that backdrop, Rangnick handed United and incoming boss Erik ten Hag a brutal reality check, by claiming they must readjust their transfer targets after such a poor season. He said: “My opinion is the club should try to find future top players and try to develop them. Haaland is 21, this is one of those players. He has developed into one of the most expensive strikers in the world.
“He would be one of those examples who I think the emphasis should be on, to convince players who should be Manchester United players for the next few years. It's obvious the club and team needs new players. Some players have no contracts any more and some are not available, some might want more game time and are on loan already. It's obvious the club needs quite a few new players. You need mentality, quality, physicality, skills - the full package.
“But as soon as other clubs like Chelsea Liverpool and Manchester City are involved, you need some good reasons. Someone needs to explain to the players [why they should join United] and that's why it's important what Erik thinks. I know from Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, if they want players they talk to them and the same is probably true of Pep Guardiola. They speak to them, find out about their mentality and character and if they are the right fit.”
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When asked if United had signed the wrong profile of player in recent years – focusing on star names rather than young talents to nurture and develop - Rangnick was equally blunt. The German said: “We just need to look into the other top clubs in England - and also in other countries in Europe - and what players they signed in the past and you get the answer." Rangnick, who will combine his United consultancy role with managing Austria, said his focus will be on recruitment and helping Ten Hag to identify the right players.
“For me, the most important bit is recruitment,” said Rangnick. “That's the most important point, that we bring in the best possible players we can speak about. It's not only identifying them, but meeting them and convincing them to join the club, even though we will not play in the Champions League.”
United host Brentford on Monday in their last home game of the season, with Rangnick revealing Jadon Sancho is set to miss the rest of the campaign with tonsillitis. Rangnick added: “I hope Fred will be back, but Jadon might be out for the rest of the season.”
