Paul Scholes and Roy Keane disagree as Man Utd sent immediate Ruben Amorim message

Roy Keane and Paul Scholes have disagreed about who should become the next Manchester United manager, if Ruben Amorimis sacked.

Amorim's position at Old Trafford is safe for now following United's much-needed 2-0 win against Sunderland last Saturday. The 40-year-old had come under severe pressure heading into the game but the Reds produced a solid performance to record three crucial points.

However, there is still talk that Amorim could face the sack should results not improve on a consistent basis. Indeed, Amorim's future was once again a topic on Thursday's episode of The Overlap, with Keane suggesting that Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone should be United's first-choice replacement if a change is made.

Simeone, 55, has been Atletico's manager since 2011 and has cemented himself as one of the best coaches on the planet in that time, helping the Madrid club win a number of major trophies. They include La Liga twice, Copa del Rey once and the Europa League twice, with Simeone boasting a 59 per cent win rate from his 749 matches.

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When asked about who should replace Amorim if United decide to sack him, Keane said: "I've said it for years but I’d like to see Atletico Madrid's Simeone go in there. I know his mate (Andrea Berta) has gone to Arsenal, but I think he would just create havoc, good havoc.

"I think he would rock up to that place and say ‘this is how you do things’. There is no guarantee but I’d just like to see his personality there with his track record.

"People may say about the style of football, but they beat Real Madrid and scored five. This idea that he is defensive, he doesn’t like his team giving up goals and chances, but he can play a bit.

"They have that fighting spirit, he’s on the sidelines causing [havoc]. I like a big personality. Andrea Berta was a big part of the success at Atletico with the recruitment side of it."

Meanwhile, Scholes offered a different assessment when speaking on The Overlap's Fan Debate earlier this week and believes that Newcastle United's Eddie Howe should be next in line.

Howe replaced Steve Bruce as Newcastle's next head coach following the Saudi-led takeover in 2021 and he has since done an excellent job on Tyneside, transforming them from a relegation-threatened club to one that is challenging - and winning - trophies and finishing in the Champions League places.

"Eddie Howe, Eddie Howe," Scholes said. "I'm not sure about his mate [Tindall], but definitely him."

Earlier this week, Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered his verdict on Amorim's future and gave him the vote of confidence, claiming that he is prepared to give the Portuguese three more years to prove himself.

"Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years," he told The Business podcast, produced by The Times and The Sunday Times.

Asked if Amorim is going to get three years, Ratcliffe replied: "Yes. That is where I would be. Three years. Because football is not overnight. It's three years. You also look at [Mikel] Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time over the first couple of years.

"We have to be patient. We have a long-term plan. It isn't a light switch. You can't run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week."

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