Man Utd manager agreement 'reached' over three options as Roy Keane gets approval

Roy Keane's former Manchester United team-mates Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have suggested they would rather the Irishman manage the club than Julian Nagelsmann. The latter has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, if Michael Carrick gets the sack.

At present, Carrick is being given more time to turn things around, but it's uncertain if he will remain at the club beyond the upcoming November international break. Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe are believed to be the three favourites, while Unai Emery and Cesc Fabregas have also been mentioned as more ambitious targets.

However, albeit with a strong hint of tongue-in-cheek, Butt and Scholes suggested Keane may be a useful manager at United. They did so while playing a game which saw them say yes or no to potential United candidates read out to them.

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On the Good, the Bad and the Football podcast, when Keane's name was raised, Butt, with a wry smile, remarked "It would be fun," before Scholes laughed and replied "I don't see why not," reports the Express.

This comes hot on the heels of a recent story from the Sun, claiming Keane had been eyed up as United's assistant manager, had Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer been reinstated rather than Carrick.

Prior to Carrick being given the role on an interim basis following Ruben Amorim's dismissal, Solskjaer had been under consideration as a temporary solution.

If the Norwegian had made his return to the club, Keane might have joined him as his assistant. This would have marked Keane's first coaching position since November 2019, when he served a seven-month stint as Martin O'Neil's number two at Nottingham Forest.

Regarding Emery and McKenna, who have both been touted for the Old Trafford hot seat, Butt and Scholes were equally positive. When Emery's name came up, Scholes remarked: "I don't see why not," and offered the same response about McKenna.

Butt echoed his former colleague's view on the latter, noting he "knows the club," referencing McKenna's period as United assistant boss under Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho, Ralf Rangnick and during Carrick's first interim tenure.

Prior to his involvement with the senior squad, McKenna also spent nearly two years managing the club's Under-18s team. He subsequently enjoyed a successful period as Ipswich Town boss between December 2021 and June 2026, securing promotion to the Premier League on two separate occasions.

McKenna left Ipswich at the start of the season after spending five seasons in charge of the Tractor Boys. He has also recently been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, who are struggling under Pierre Sage.

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