Manchester United interim head coach Ralf Rangnick has revealed that he has been in touch with Erik ten Hag, as the Dutchman prepares to take charge of the 20-time English champions.
Rangnick will lead the Red Devils for the final time on Sunday, with the team heading to Crystal Palace looking to secure sixth position in the Premier League table.
Ten Hag is expected to be in attendance at Selhurst Park, and Rangnick has revealed that the duo will meet in person "either at the weekend or Monday morning", but there has already been communication between the two via WhatsApp.
"We've been in contact via WhatsApp and hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet and speak in person, either at the weekend or Monday morning at the latest," Rangnick told reporters on Friday afternoon. "I'm looking forward to speaking to him in person and getting to know him in person."
Rangnick is due to take charge of the Austrian national team next week, but he is also taking on a consultancy role at Old Trafford, which is expected to last for two years.
The German has revealed that he has already spoken to Ten Hag about his new role at Man United, with the 63-year-old confident that he can be a huge asset on a consultancy basis.
"We spoke about that in detail," Rangnick added, "about all the different areas where I could maybe be of help. It's not that easy or not that difficult to know in which areas this could be.
"I think we showed that in the last 15 years with Hoffenheim, Salzburg and Leipzig, even for clubs not as prominent as Manchester United, it's possible to identify, develop and even at one stage sell.
"I know Manchester United is not a selling club but rather a developing and buying club, but this is possible and this is what is most important, that the club finds players for whom it is the next next logical step is in their career, to develop their sporting career.
"If that happens, I can be positive and I can hopefully be encouraging for our fans that we will bring United back to the top."
Ten Hag is due to officially begin work in Manchester on Monday, but the Dutchman will take a break before the start of pre-season, having stepped straight into work at the end of the Eredivisie campaign.
Man United will not have Champions League football next season, with the club instead battling West Ham United for sixth spot, which would bring a spot in the 2022-23 Europa League.
A win for the Red Devils at Palace would confirm sixth, but a draw or defeat would not be enough if West Ham beat Brighton, as the Hammers have a superior goal difference.
Rangnick revealed during his pre-match press conference that the club are likely to be missing a number of players on Sunday, with Jadon Sancho, Phil Jones and Luke Shaw all major doubts.
Meanwhile, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly are both expected to miss out, but Marcus Rashford could be back in the squad, having missed the 4-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion last time out through illness.
Rangnick will take charge of his 29th and final game as Man United manager on Sunday, with the German boasting a record of 11 wins, 10 draws and seven defeats at the helm. body check tags ::
