The not so famous five... Man United will talk to Rangnick, Valverde, Favre, Garcia and Fonseca over becoming interim boss – with PSG determined to keep first choice Mauricio Pochettino
* Manchester United have named a five-man shortlist for their interim boss role
* Ralf Rangnick, Lucien Favre, Ernesto Valverde and Rudi Garcia are on the list
* Former Roma manager Paulo Fonseca will also be considered for the post
* Steve Bruce's agent has also offered his client to the temporary vacancy
* Sportsmail understands no-one on the five-man shortlist is a permanent option
* The Red Devils want only an interim before a long-term decision in the summer
Manchester United will stick to their plan of appointing an interim manager for the rest of the season after accepting it will be too difficult to take Mauricio Pochettino from Paris Saint-Germain now.
Although PSG on Wednesday denied that an official approach for Pochettino has been rejected, Sportsmail understands United have tried to discreetly ascertain through a third party whether a move to install the former Tottenham boss as permanent manager as soon as possible would be a realistic option.
The indications are that PSG would be reluctant to let the Argentine depart mid-season and disrupt their campaign, although he is expected to re-emerge as a leading candidate for the United job in the summer.
Pochettino is known to be interested in the post and was even happy to sign United shirts yesterday at The Lowry Hotel where PSG were staying ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City on Wednesday night.
United will now focus on the strategy put in place after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked at the weekend, and step up their search for an interim manager to take over from caretaker Michael Carrick. He steered them into the Champions League last 16 knockout stage on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win at Villarreal.
Former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde and ex-Lyon coach Rudi Garcia have already held talks with United’s director of football John Murtough. Garcia said: ‘I will say nothing on the subject. I neither confirm nor deny.’
Lokomotiv Moscow’s head of sports and development, Ralf Rangnick, former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre and ex-Roma boss Paulo Fonseca are among the other names being linked with the temporary role. But sources in Germany said last night that Rangnick is cool on the idea of a short-term stint.
Sportsmail can reveal Ernesto Valverde (L) and Ralf Rangnick (right) are also being discussed
Although committing to two separate managerial appointments is a peculiar strategy, the Old Trafford hierarchy are said to be satisfied that an interim would provide stability and momentum while giving them the freedom to install a permanent replacement at the end of the season.
It also suggests that United know their preferred target will not be available until the summer — whether that is Pochettino or someone else. Ideally, they would have kept Solskjaer in charge until then but United’s alarming dip in form forced the club into a change of plan.
While the search for an interim continues, Carrick is set to stay in charge for Sunday’s trip to Chelsea after winning against Villarreal with goals by Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho.
Ex-Lyon boss Rudi Garcia (left) and Paulo Fonseca (right) are also being considered. United chief Ed Woodward only wants an interim manager before the end of the season
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers sought to put an end to speculation linking him with a switch to United, saying on Wednesday that he was committed to developing his Leicester team.
Rodgers, who has been touted as a potential replacement for Solskjaer, said: ‘It’s not real. There’s always gossip and that will be there until they appoint a full-time manager. My commitment is to here (Leicester). The culture here is about the development of the players and that’s where I see it — even more so in this period.’
Rodgers’ Leicester side host Legia Warsaw in the Europa League on Thursday night and sit bottom of Group C after winning only one of their first four games.
Spartak Moscow are top of the group after a 2-1 victory against Napoli.
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