Jamie Redknapp has told Sir Jim Ratcliffe that only two credible contenders exist to succeed Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager should the club decide to make a change.
Carrick's position at Old Trafford has come under mounting speculation in recent weeks amid the club's poor run of form. United are currently nine games without a win ahead of tonight's Champions League clash with Roma at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils suffered a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend, a loss that leaves them just above the drop zone on goal difference and two points clear of bottom-placed Sunderland.
Two runners for the job
Carrick has not secured a Premier League victory as United manager since August 30. The club have been tipped to pursue a change of managers, despite only appointing Carrick to the role permanently in the summer.
Redknapp has argued that former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, currently out of work, and present Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery would represent the only credible options for the United position should the club opt for change.
"There are only, I think, two runners," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "Listen, Michael Carrick is still in the job, so it's unfair to be saying it.
"But if that's the case, if this doesn't improve, it's inevitable that he's going to lose his job. It can only be him [Emery] really and Eddie Howe."
Nagelsmann assessed
Redknapp also offered his assessment of former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, who has likewise been linked with the United job since departing his role as Germany's national team manager in the summer.
"Julian Nagelsmann has done pretty well in Germany," Redknapp said. "I think he started off his career so good... last few years, not quite so good, obviously with Germany at the World Cup.
"I can only really see him [Emery]. It depends, does he want to leave Aston Villa? He's got a project, he can do what he likes there, he's running the club, whatever he says goes.
"But he might think, 'this is the challenge for me', and every manager has an ego. Everyone will believe that they can turn Manchester United around, they will genuinely believe that.
"With his abilities, he would probably be the only one that I would trust to be able to do it.
"I don't believe anyone else is just going to go in there with a manager and an assistant and change it. There are so many things behind the scenes that need to change."
