Manchester United has hired Ralf Rangnick as interim manager. 

Rangnick is leaving his job as head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow to take up the role.

Rangnick has agreed a six-month deal until the end of May. He will have a further two years in a consultancy role.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired earlier this week.

Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the top target for Manchester United as their next permanent manager.

Pochettino, however, is under contract with Paris Saint-Germain until 2023 after signing an extension this summer.

Pochettino would be interested in the job if he can get out of his contract.

"I am very focused on football," said Pochettino when asked about the United job. "I am not a kid, I'm not a child; I spent my whole life playing football and now 12 years being a coach, we are in a business and the rumors are there.

"I completely understand what is going on -- sometimes it is a positive or sometimes negative, but this kind of thing cannot distract me.

"What another club is doing's not my business, and I am not going to make the mistake to talk. Things get misunderstood and out of context."

Manchester United have held discussions with Ernesto Valverde about the possibility of becoming interim manager.

After Solskjaer's departure, Michael Carrick was put in charge temporarily, and despite his winning his first game 2-0 against Villarreal on Tuesday, sources say that the club remain committed to bringing in someone else between now and the summer.

Valverde has previously managed Barcelona and Bilbao. 

Paris Saint-Germain have reached out to Zinedine Zidane about his interest in their managerial job should they part ways with Mauricio Pochettino.

Zidane left Real Madrid last summer after his second tenure with the club.

PSG believes Zidane would be well suited to manage their star-studded club. 

Gareth Southgate has signed a contract extension to remain as manager of England until the end of 2024.

Southgate's previous deal would have expired after the World Cup in Qatar. 

Southgate will receive a significant increase on his old £3 million-a-year deal.

"I am delighted that Steve and I have been able to extend our stay in our respective roles," Southgate said in a statement.

"It remains an incredible privilege to lead this team.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark [Bullingham], John [McDermott] and the board for their support -- and of course the players and support team for their hard work.

"We have a great opportunity in front of us and I know they and the fans are all excited about what this squad could achieve in future."

Manchester United has fired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager.

"Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision. While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success.

"Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as Manager and our very best wishes for the future. His place in the club's history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a Manager who gave us many great moments. He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family."

Michael Carrick will take charge as caretaker. 

United's 4-1 defeat to Watford was the final straw for Solskjaer, who had nearly been fired several teams previously. 

Jesse Lingard has walked away from extension talks with Manchester United as he continues to struggle for playing time.

Lingard has started just one match this season as his contract expires in seven months.

Lingard wants to be a regular starter in order to have a chance to earn a place in England's 2022 World Cup squad. 

Joan Laporta hinted that Barcelona could potentially bring back Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. 

Messi left on a free transfer in the summer to join Paris Saint-Germain.

"I can't rule it out," Laporta said at Alves' presentation when asked whether Messi and Iniesta could follow the defender back to the club in the future.

"It's happened with Dani Alves, who has seen the situation and wanted to help. We're grateful for the financial sacrifice he's made. He wants to help us turn things around.

"Leo and Andres are two spectacular players. I can't predict the future. They are Barca greats and who made this club what it is and they will always be present, but they're players with contracts with other clubs. That must be respected, but in life you never know."

Iniesta, 37, joined Japanese side Vissel Kobe in 2018.

Some squad players of Manchester United feel they have been misled by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about their prospects of playing time.

Solskjaer accepted during meetings over the summer that he had "overplayed" key players during the previous campaign. Donny van de Beek, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Dean Henderson, Eric Bailly, Diogo Dalot, Juan Mata and Alex Telles had been told they would feature more frequently this season.

United have lost six of their past 12 games with eight of the same players starting each of the demoralising defeats to Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Dani Alves has signed with Barcelona, becoming the first acquisition under Xavi Hernandez. 

The club said in a statement: "FC Barcelona and Dani Alves have reached an agreement in principle for the player to join the football first team for the remainder of the current season. The Brazilian will be joining training from next week but will not be able to play until January."

Alves joined Barca from Sevilla in 2008 and won 23 trophies during a glittering eight years at the club before leaving for Juventus in 2016.

He later had a spell with Paris Saint-Germain before leaving in 2019 to spend two years with Sao Paulo.