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Man Utd chief Ed Woodward's role in Ralf Rangnick appointment with 'agreement' in place
Ed Woodward's potential final act at Manchester United will be very popular among fans.
Who is Ralf Rangnick? Man Utd's interim boss in profile
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has played a significant role in Ralf Rangnick's arrival as a key figure at the club. The 63-year-old is set to join United as interim manager until the end of the season before taking up a consultancy role.
Sky Sports report that United have now reached an agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow to lure Rangnick to Old Trafford.
He will sign his contract this weekend and likely be in the dugout for the first time against Arsenal next Thursday.
The German mastermind requires a work permit before he can work in England but should be free to take charge of Mikel Arteta's side's visit.
United's impending appointment has been met with mass excitement among fans, and Woodward was central in the decision.
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According to Sky Sports, Woodward pushed the club to give Rangnick an additional two years within the structure.
Woodward wants to capitalise on Rangnick's level of expertise and 'strongly believes' he will offer valuable insight and resource in decision-making in forthcoming years.
The Telegraph claims the interim boss could introduce a countdown clock in training sessions to aid a quick transition to a high-intensity press, which he successfully implemented at RB Leipzig.
These little details emphasise the technical change Rangnick is set to impose at United compared to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's motivation-based approach.
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In what many hope will be the start of a new era of success at Old Trafford, Woodward's role in Rangnick's arrival could be one of his last at the club.
After the Super League debacle earlier this year, United announced he would be leaving at the end of December.
But he is reportedly set to delay his exit to help appoint a long-term successor to Solskjaer next summer.
If Rangnick proves to succeed as interim and fans are happy with the long-term choice, he will be ending his rightly-scrutinised tenure on a high.
In the meantime, Michael Carrick will take charge of United's daunting trip to Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday.
In midweek, Carrick guided the Red Devils to a crucial 2-0 win at Villarreal, securing top spot in their Champions League group.
If United can avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge, there will be momentum Rangnick can build on as he takes over next week.
There has still been no official confirmation from the club, but it should be imminent with a deal now in place with Lokomotiv.