A WhatsApp conference between Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick has taken place in advance of a formal meeting; Ten Hag intends to hire Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag as assistant coaches for Man United's match against Crystal Palace this Sunday at Selhurst Park.
Prior to Sunday's last game against Crystal Palace, Ralf Rangnick has been in communication with new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

A WhatsApp conversation between Rangnick and Ten Hag, who will replace him at Old Trafford, has been verified, although the duo has yet to meet in person.

Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag were photographed visiting the club's Mayfair headquarters on Thursday, where they will support Ten Hag's new-look Manchester United management team.
The penultimate United news conference before the team's travel to Selhurst Park on Sunday was held by Rangnick, who stated the following: "Through WhatsApp, we've been in touch with each other. We plan to chat and meet face-to-face this weekend or on Monday, at the earliest, and we look forward to it. I'm eager to meet him in person and get to know him better."

Ten Hag has allegedly prioritized the hiring of Van der Gaag and McClaren, both of whom worked as assistants to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United between 1999 and 2001.

On the final day of the Premier League season, Manchester United know they must beat West Ham in order to escape relegation to the Europa Conference League.
Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen hold a two-point advantage over sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen, although their goal difference is much worse.
"I'm certain that the guys are eager to succeed. It seems clear to me that they would want to participate in the Europa League rather than the Conference League next year. This should serve as motivation for us to achieve Europa League qualification on Sunday."

Before, Rangnick was not afraid to speak openly about United's problems, saying the team needs big changes before it can once again contend for major honors.
However, "I still firmly think that there are some top-level, well-deserving and good enough players at this club, and hopefully most of those players will still be here next season," he said.

When we bring in the right players, with the right mindset and the right quality, I am certain that we can get this club back on track and back to the top," says Erik.

"This is what the next several weeks are going to be about. Even if it doesn't happen in the current transfer window, I'm certain it will in the next two or three."

United will let defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka to depart the club in the summer of 2018.
As long as there is an agreement for United to purchase him at the end of the loan, the 24-year-old will be allowed to join the club permanently.
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acquired Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace for £50 million in 2019, the striker has had a hit-and-miss spell at United.
Right-back was his natural position under Solskjaer, but Diogo Dalot has become a more serious threat under interim manager Ralf Rangnick.