Paul Merson divides Man Utd fans with his shock managerial pick to replace Erik ten Hag

Paul Merson has made a surprise suggestion regarding who should replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager.

Ten Hag’s future at United is more precarious with every passing week, with the club’s 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday the latest in a series of disappointments this term.

There has been much speculation in recent weeks claiming United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been considering replacing the Dutchman with Gareth Southgate or Thomas Tuchel.

However, former Arsenal midfielder Merson has insisted that United should try to lure Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti to Old Trafford, claiming that the Italian should take charge of the club for a year to “sort it out”.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson boldly claimed: “I said a couple of weeks ago, I think they need Ancelotti. I know Ancelotti has got another year left at Real Madrid but they could go on and win the Champions League.

“I know it’s not a step forward. But you bring him in for a year. You’ve got Sir Jim Ratcliffe upstairs. You get him in there for a year and he comes and he goes, ‘You know what? At the end of the season, keep him, keep him, get rid of him, he’s a bad egg, get rid of him.

“This bloke has worked with the best in the world. You watch this Real Madrid team - they’ve got superstars and they run around. That’s because of the manager.

“So you need someone to come in just to sort it out because at the moment it’s just going to keep going on.

“Man United are a million miles off, and they will be again next year and the year after. They’re not one of two signings away. They’re a long, long, long, long way away.”

Ancelotti has won the Champions League on four occasions with AC Milan and Real.

Indeed, he is set to take charge of Real in the final of Europe’s premier competition once more at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.