Manchester United set to appoint sports psychologist Sascha Lense and coach Chris Armas as part of Ralf Rangnick's overhaul of backroom staff at Old Trafford with pair awaiting work visas

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Ralf Rangnick is close to recruiting two new staff for his Manchester United backroom team this week.

Coach Chris Armas and highly-rated sports psychologist Sascha Lense are awaiting work visas ahead of becoming part of Rangnick's new-look staff.

Lense was introduced to players at United's Carrington training base on Monday. The 46-year-old former midfielder previously worked with Rangnick at Schalke and Red Bull Leipzig but will have to wait for clearance on his visa before he can begin applying his well-regarded techniques to United's squad. 

Manchester United are reportedly set to hire sports psychologist Sascha Lense (above) as a coach to support Ralf Rangnick

Lense (right) knows United interim boss Rangnick (left) from their time together at RB Leipzig

Armas, the 49-year-old former New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC coach, has also applied for his work visa ahead of being cleared to join up with Kieran McKenna and Mike Phelan.

Rangnick is expected to discuss the new additions at his press conference on Tuesday. However, United are awaiting the customary visa process to be completed before confirming the appointments.

Rangnick knows Armas from his work with Red Bull and has been looking to appoint up to three new coaches or analysts as he moves forward, particularly after Michael Carrick left United last week.

Jesse Marsch, who was sacked as manager of Red Bull Leipzig on Sunday, has also been discussed but is understood to hold some reservations about fulfilling a role as assistant again after stepping up to be head coach.

'About the coaching, I'm more than happy to work with them,' explained Rangnick. 'I need their expertise and experience regarding the current squad.

'I want to find one, two or three to join us but due to Brexit regulations, it's not that easy.

'Many of my former colleagues are tied up in long-term contracts with big clubs so they are not available right now. We need to be smart and clever and find the right names, hopefully in one or two weeks but I don't know.' 

Armas was sacked as coach of Toronto FC in July after they lost 7-1 to DC United with Toronto president Bill Manning saying: 'When you see a team concede like we did, we just saw no way back outside of making the coaching change.' 

However, during his one full season in charge at New York, statistics showed they had the fastest ball recoveries in the MLS, with the highest press, and played the most direct attacking style - traits accustomed with Rangnick's methods. 

Lense (left) has held sports psychologist roles as Dynamo Dresden, Leipzig and Schalke 

Former Toronto manager Chris Armas (above) is also set to join the United coaching staff

Rangnick was head of sport and development for Red Bull's clubs in New York and Brazil while Armas (above) was head coach of the American team

Rangnick made a promising start to his interim reign at United winning 1-0 against Crystal Palace. He changed training time immediately last Friday as players came in after 2pm following their 3-2 win over Arsenal on Thursday.

They trained at 3pm as Rangnick implemented his preferred 4-2-2-2 system. They had another training session on Saturday, again at 3pm, which was disrupted by the turbulent weather so they had little more than 45 minutes outside. 

Rangnick took time going through video footage and speaking individually to his new players and explaining how they would work in groups as he ensured they were as well prepared as time allowed.

United face Young Boys on Wednesday in the Champions League.

Armas only last six months in his role with Toronto, having been fired after an awful  7-1 defeat

Armas will become Rangnick's (middle) assistant manager after getting his work permit