Ralf Rangnick on Man Utd: 'It's obvious that something needs to be changed'

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick openly admits that vast changes need to be made at the club, saying that "highly talented, hungry players" must be signed if the Red Devils are to get back to trophy winning ways.

The veteran German boss has been steering the Old Trafford ship for four months, having taken on the role as short-term manager after the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.

Rangnick has tasted defeat just three times in his 20 games in charge, but United have won only nine of those matches - giving the 63-year-old a winning percentage of just 45%.

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag is the hot favourite to become United's permanent manager, and Rangnick admits the size of the task ahead for whoever takes over is vast - with the former RB Leipzig supremo pinpointing a need to bring in young players who are striving to reach the very top of the game among the many changes required.

"It's obvious that something needs to be changed, something needs to be rebuilt in the summer," Rangnick told Sky Sports. "The team could do with some more highly-talented, hungry players who really want to develop their own careers.

"I don't think it should be that much about signing big names. I wouldn't mind big names! But for me it's important about being competitive, hungry, seeing a move to a club - and I have always believed this - not only as a big contract, a big-name club, but the next logical step in his career.

"If this happens, then you have a completely different level of motivation, aspiration, inspiration to play for whatever club that is. That should be the major target for the summer transfer window."

Rangnick referenced the job Jurgen Klopp has done at Liverpool following his 2016 appointment, highlighting that things weren't so rosy during the German's early tenure at Anfield - something United can take confidence from.

"Look at Liverpool," he says. "When Jurgen Klopp came there five-and-a-half years ago it was early in the season, but they still finished eighth in the Premier League with a point average of about 1.6.

"They played in a European final but lost it, and from that summer transfer window onwards, if you compare the line-up from that final to now, there are a couple of players still there, Henderson and Firmino for example, but they added top signings in almost every transfer window. Players for whom that move would've been the next step - Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah.

"It shows it's possible, but you need to have both the quality and process of recruitment and players plus the best possible manager."

Mauricio Pochettino is the other leading candidate to take over at United, with Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui also considered, and 90min understands the club hope to make a decision over who they will appoint imminently.