Manchester United have been told why Unai Emery is the clear “first-choice” manager target to replace Michael Carrick.
The current Man Utd head coach remains under significant pressure ahead of a crucial double-header against Roma, in the Champions League on Tuesday, and Emery’s Aston Villa, in the Premier League on Sunday.
According to widespread reports, Man Utd chiefs will assess Carrick’s ongoing employment following those two games, and Emery is being suggested as the perfect replacement.
Emery's Villa record praised
Emery has established himself as one of the Premier League's outstanding coaches through his work at Aston Villa, despite operating with more restricted resources than some of his rivals.
Emery has transformed Villa into a consistent force and Richard Dunne feels Man Utd should make him their priority, even if persuading him to leave Villa Park proves difficult.
"Unai Emery has to be right at the top of the shortlist for Man United," Dunne told Snabbare. "He's proven what he can do at Aston Villa with restricted funds, making his signings work brilliantly. The success he's had with Villa is as impressive as anyone's in the league. Man United should look at him as their number one target, even if it ends in rejection."
Deeper problems at Old Trafford
Dunne admits he would be surprised if Emery accepted an offer from Old Trafford, given the authority and control he enjoys at Villa.
However, he believes United's managerial uncertainty reflects wider problems at the club, with the ownership, recruitment strategy and executive leadership all requiring scrutiny.
United have appointed highly regarded managers and assembled squads containing outstanding individual talent, but have struggled to restore the consistency and success expected of them.
"You have to look above the pitch at the boardroom," Dunne added. "Ownership is a long-term problem, and recruitment and executive leadership don't seem aligned. Man United have deeper problems than just the manager."
Carrick's future debated
Former Man Utd midfielder Nicky Butt believes Carrick should be sacked “tomorrow”, or be given the chance to build for the next two years.
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football, sponsored by Midnite, said: "Well, they've got a choice to make. They give it to Michael for two years from now, where he can build his own squad. He can be a major factor in the decision-making on the players that come in, or you let him go tomorrow.
"For me, that won't happen because it's an international break, and it probably will happen then, if it happens. But there's no in-between with it. You've either got to give the manager the range for two years now because that is a building exercise like you wouldn't believe. Now, with what's happened over the last nine months.
"They've either got to do that and say Michael no matter where you are, as long as you don't get relegated, for the next two years, you're Man United manager and that will give him four transfer windows, five with this January and basically build a squad that's going to get us to where we need to be, or we'll give it to somebody else."
