Ferdinand suggests ex-United coach should return until Pochettino accepts job

"I'm putting money on Pochettino, for the end of the season."

Rio Ferdinand believes that former Manchester United coach Carlos Quieroz would happily become interim manager at Old Trafford, suggesting that Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino would not join until the summer. United dismissed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the weekend following the 4-1 defeat at Watford, with Michael Carrick named caretaker manager until an interim boss is appointed. A number of candidates have been suggested since the Norwegian's time at the club came to an end, but PSG manager Pochettino has quickly emerged as United's number one target. The former Spurs boss is thought to be interested in the job and is willing to leave his role with the Parisians to take up the vacancy at Old Trafford. However, ex-United defender Ferdinand believes that if the move is to happen, it will take place in the summer - tipping an unlikely candidate to take the reins until then. "I don't think that Pochettino leaves PSG during the season," he said on Vibe with FIVE. "He's a man of integrity, he's a man of respect.

"I think he's grateful for the opportunity to be at PSG and as a man, I think he'll just say: 'If they want me that bad they'll wait.'

"I think from the media that we saw over the last couple of years when he was out of work, that for him Man United is the pinnacle, is the club he'd love to get to, get his hands on and guide the club.

"He's got a lot of stuff going on at PSG so you have to be respectful in that sense.

"It's about what PSG want as well because they're not the kind of club that will just relinquish their manager.

"I'm putting money on Pochettino, for the end of the season, start of next season, my money's on Pochettino being manager."

It is thought that the Argentine is unhappy in France, with his family still living in London while he is staying at a Paris hotel. He has also struggled to deal with big dressing room egos like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, according to reports. While a host of managers have been tipped to replace the recently departed Solskjaer until the end of the current season - including Carrick, Laurent Blanc and Ralf Rangnick - Ferdinand has picked out a different candidate.

The 43-year-old thinks that former United assistant Carlos Queiroz could take the reins on a temporary basis.

"What about Carlos Quieroz?' said Ferdinand. "I think if Man United come calling for someone like Carlos Quieroz he drops whatever he's doing."

Queiroz, who spent two stints at United as a coach under Sir Alex Ferguson, is currently managing Egypt, having also been in charge of Portugal, Iran and Colombia.

Related links:

• Man United players unhappy with assistant manager’s ‘school teacher’ approach
• Phil Jones travels with Man Utd squad for Villarreal game despite being ineligible
• PSG players believe Zinedine Zidane becoming their new manager is ‘imminent’