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Man United's Ralf Rangnick wants Chris Armas to join coaching staff - sources

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Rangnick outlines vision for Manchester United (1:51)

Ralf Rangnick says he's aiming to improve Manchester United's defensive record in his first press conference as interim manager. (1:51)

Manchester United are exploring the possibility of hiring former United States international midfielder and two-time Major League Soccer head coach Chris Armas as part of Ralf Rangnick's staff, sources have told ESPN.

A work permit would be needed for Armas, whose last job was head coach of Toronto FC. He previously led New York Red Bulls to a Supporters' Shield win in 2019.

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Sources have told ESPN that Rangnick, who was appointed head of Red Bull's global football projects in 2019, is being allowed to appoint a "small number" of his own coaching staff to work alongside Mike Phelan and Kieran McKenna, both of whom were part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's backroom team.

Another of Solskjaer's assistants, Michael Carrick, left the club after taking charge of the team for three games before Rangnick's appointment as interim coach until the end of the season.

Rangnick was asked about the possibility of bringing in his own staff at his official unveiling ahead of the win over Crystal Palace and said any appointments may take time to arrange.

"I'm more than happy to work with the current coaching staff because I need their experience, I need their expertise regarding the current squad," he said.

"I will obviously try to find one, two, maybe three people who can join us in one or two weeks, but due to the Brexit regulations it's not too easy.

"Many of my former colleagues, no matter if it's video analysts or assistant coaches, are in long-term contracts with big clubs, so they are not available right now, and we have to be a bit smart and clever and find the right people.

"I hope that we can get them in here in the next one or two weeks."

Armas played in MLS for LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire, with whom he won a championship in 1998, and was capped 66 times by the USMNT. He ended his playing career in 2007.

Meanwhile, German Sascha Lense is set to join United as a sports psychologist. The 46-year-old former midfielder will work as part of the coaching team rather than in the medical department and should begin his role this week.