Mauricio Pochettino is emerging as the leading candidate to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United, but Red Devils icon Wayne Rooney has his own view on who should replace the 45-year-old at Old Trafford.

It was a surprise to many when Carrick was given a stay of execution by Man United chiefs following successive defeats to Como in the Champions League and at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League, but now it appears as though the Middlesbrough boss is reaching the end of his reign.

Since the loss against the Cherries, Carrick has picked up one point from a possible six available in the English top flight, with United needing a 96th-minute equaliser from Patrick Dorgu to get it against Aston Villa on Sunday.

They did produce a remarkable comeback to beat AS Roma at Old Trafford last week in Europe, having been 2-0 down at half-time, but it wasn't enough to convince Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada that he should remain in the position for the trip to face Liverpool at Anfield after the international break.

Wilcox and Berrada will now present their recommendation that Carrick is relieved of his duties during meetings in Monaco with Sir Jim Ratcliffe this week, with the club's co-owner and the Glazers having the final say on what happens next.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed on Monday night that Pochettino was emerging as a leading candidate for the role, and that fact has been backed up by David Ornstein on Tuesday, who claims that the club currently aren't pursuing Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann or Antonio Conte.

GMS understands that all three out-of-work managers have their admirers on the United board, and Fabrizio Romano has confirmed there have been talks with people close to Howe over the role, but it appears as though Pochettino is increasingly the favoured candidate.

United will need to pay $10m (around £7m) to release the former Tottenham boss from his contract with the USMNT, so they must decide whether they are going to do that.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, released on Tuesday, Rooney actually believes a return to Old Trafford for Jose Mourinho is 'exactly what they need'.

The 41-year-old, who is about to take part in 'I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here' in Australia, said:

He's probably exactly what Man United need now, if I'm being honest. You can see why he's had the success where he's had it.

"I think he's ruthless, he's selfish and if he's got something to say, he'll say it. But I think, if he had a little bit more within the squad, he would have won (the Premier League)."

United Will Have to Appoint Mourinho Alternative

Rooney clearly thinks that Mourinho would make a difference at Old Trafford, and has unfinished business with the club after leading them to a second-place finish in the 2017-18 season.

If United were carrying out this search in the summer, like they could have been had they not given Carrick the job on a permanent basis, then the Portuguese boss might have been a viable option.

However, the 63-year-old left Benfica to join Real Madrid instead, and he has made a positive start to life as Los Blancos' manager.

Real currently lie in second position in LaLiga, trailing leaders Barcelona by three points, while they are also second in the Champions League standings, behind Paris Saint-Germain only on goal difference.

There is no possibility that Mourinho will be leaving the Bernabau for a relegation battle in the Premier League, and club chiefs will need to find a suitable alternative elsewhere instead.

As things stand, it appears as though Pochettino is the most likely next United manager, and fans will look at what he achieved at Tottenham Hotspur and hope he can transform their fortunes too.