Since the last league title was lifted at Old Trafford in 2013, United have worked through a long procession of managers.

Each arrival has been greeted with the same hopeful talk of a new era and a clear identity.

Each exit has followed a familiar script of dwindling patience, awkward press conferences and leaks from upstairs.

The hierarchy have spent years searching for someone with a proven winning habit.

A winning habit, as it happens, is something United’s decision-makers have been studying closely this week.

Unai Emery added to Manchester United managerial shortlist

Unai Emery is among Manchester United’s dream candidates to replace Michael Carrick, according to the i Paper.

Carrick is on the brink of getting the sack after the Champions League humiliation at Como, and Unai Emery is said to have plenty of admirers among the Old Trafford hierarchy.

They have noted how he was forced to rip up and rebuild his squad in a summer spent wrangling with financial fair play regulations.

Since arriving at Villa Park in 2022 he has delivered two fourth-placed finishes and a Champions League quarter-final, vastly superior to anything United have served up in that time.

He also won the Europa League last season, beating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul to claim his fifth title in the competition after three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal.

His first game in charge of Villa was a 3-1 win over United in November 2022, and he has since guided them back into the Champions League.

This season has started slowly in the league, with Villa 12th on 8 points from 7 games after failing to win any of their first 3.

In Europe, though, they are second in the 36-team Champions League table after three wins from three, including a 6-0 rout of Fenerbahce and a 3-1 win over Viking on Wednesday.

United, by contrast, are winless in seven games in all competitions and sit 13th with seven points.

Whether Emery would entertain an offer remains to be seen, with sources close to him suggesting he is absolutely committed to Villa.