Manchester United legend Paul Scholes insists Antonio Conte would be the ideal profile to replace Michael Carrick.

For the third season in a row, the Premier League giants could be set for a mid-season managerial change, as the team is without a win in the last eight matches across all competitions and currently lie in a miserable 16th place in the table.

Carrick has surprisingly been handed an additional lifeline after Monday’s internal talks between CEO Omar Berrada, Director of Football Jason Wilcox, and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Nevertheless, the 45-year-old is unlikely to survive the next international break if the results don’t improve in the coming weeks.

Paul Scholes wants Antonio Conte at Man Utd

In recent weeks, Eddie Howe has emerged as the ultimate favourite to take over from Carrick. The 48-year-old is available after leaving Newcastle in the summer, and the same applies to Julian Nagelsmann, who has the backing of Man Utd’s Head of Recruitment, Christopher Vivell.

Nevertheless, Scholes insists that Conte would be the ideal candidate for the United candidacy.

“You’d have to pick a manager who you think will get us back to being a competitive team for the Premier League,” said the iconic midfielder in the latest episode of The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast (via Metro).

“Out of them three, Antonio Conte’s the man, but he comes with a big f***ing massive warning. He’s made noises that he wants to come and I’m pretty sure the club would have spoke to all three of them.

Scholes was referring to Conte’s interview with The Athletic, when he announced his desire to restore a struggling European giant to its former glory.

The pundit is also a fan of Unai Emery, whom he considers underrated, but he wouldn’t choose the Spaniard ahead of Conte.

“He’s won the Europa League with Aston Villa, do you know what an achievement that is? He gets a new team every single year because they have to sell their best players. and he keeps producing, keeps producing.

“Is everyone put off by his Arsenal and PSG days? Probably, because it’s a big club. But it might be staring us in the face. He’d have to take United over Villa, I think he would.

“I think Conte’s the best one around. When I’m talking best in class and you talk them four, I think Antonio Conte’s miles ahead of all of them.”

Scholes is aware of the caveat that would accompany Conte’s arrival, as the Italian seldom dwells at one club, but he would be satisfied with a short-term boost.

“He’s volatile, I know he’s volatile and might be a bit of a madman, but when you talk about successful managers at top clubs, he’s streets ahead,’ added Scholes.

“I don’t care if it’s short term. I don’t care if he’s there 18 months and he gets us challenging for the league, that would be a success.

“The more and more I think about it, Conte needs to come in and start banging some heads together.”

Scholes brings valid points regarding Conte

As the Man Utd legend noted, Conte is renowned for his short but successful tenures. He often leaves clubs amid disagreements with the hierarchy regarding recruitment and objectives, departing when he senses a lack of ambition.

Therefore, INEOS surely must realise that appointing the 57-year-old must be accompanied by a more aggressive approach in the market, and this could be a key reason why the Italian isn’t at the top of the shortlist, despite boasting a better resume than Howe and Nagelsmann.

So while Conte would indeed be the best possible solution for Man Utd, we have become increasingly accustomed to secondary options under Ratcliffe’s tutelage.