Ralf Rangnick refuses to comment on Mauricio Pochettino speculation

Manchester United interim head coach Ralf Rangnick has refused to be drawn on suggestions that the Red Devils are closing in on an agreement with Mauricio Pochettino.

Rangnick is set to step down as manager this summer to take on a consultancy role, and various reports have claimed that Pochettino will leave Paris Saint-Germain for Old Trafford ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

However, when asked about the rumours ahead of Friday's FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough, Rangnick said that he was simply focusing on the busy run of matches ahead.

"I have no idea. My full focus is on training the group right now, we have in games coming up in three different competitions, I couldn't give any reasonable answer to that question, my focus is on the next couple of games, weeks and months, be as successful as we can be," the German told reporters.

Pochettino is allegedly desperate to leave PSG this summer to secure a return to the Premier League, 12 months before the end of his contract with the French giants.

However, Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has also been strongly linked with the post at Old Trafford, with the 52-year-old believed to have impressed club chiefs with his work in Amsterdam.