Manchester United are 5/1 to win a major trophy this season after confirming the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager until the end of the season, subject to work visa requirements.
The 63-year-old German joins from Lokomotiv Moscow, where he was manager of sports and development.
At the end of the season, Rangnick will take on a consultancy role for a further two years but the Manchester United odds highlight the challenge facing him.
He is set to take over from first-team coach Michael Carrick, who has been in caretaker charge for two matches since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked just over a week ago.
United are seemingly out of the Premier League title race already after losing five of their first 15 matches.
They are eighth in the table after holding leaders Chelsea to a 1-1 draw on Sunday and are now 100/1 to win the title, evens for a top-four finish and 1/5 to be in the top six, or alternatively they are 8/11 to finish outside the top four and 10/3 to miss out on a top-six spot.
It may be unthinkable for United fans but if things get worse under Rangnick rather than better, they are 16/1 to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Winning the Champions League rather than the Premier League would be a more realistic target for Rangnick after they qualified for the last 16 as group winners with a game to spare.
Last week’s 2-0 win at Villarreal helped boost morale at the club and the Manchester United odds to win the Champions League are now 14/1.
United are already out of the Carabao Cup and are joint-third favourites at 13/2 to win the FA Cup.
"I am excited to be joining Manchester United and focused on making this a successful season for the club. The squad is full of talent.
"All my efforts will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team."#MUFC pic.twitter.com/a3GKC42MuH
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 29, 2021
“I am excited to be joining Manchester United and focused on making this a successful season for the club,” Rangnick told the club’s official website.
“The squad is full of talent and has a great balance of youth and experience.
“All my efforts for the next six months will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team.
“Beyond that, I look forward to supporting the club’s longer-term goals on a consultancy basis.”
Rangnick’s work visa has not been sorted in time for him to take his place in the United dugout at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
The Red Devils face a tricky test against Arsenal and the Manchester United odds show they are evens for what would be just their third home league win of the season.
United can also be backed at 10/3 to win their next three matches against Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Young Boys.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
