Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has emerged as an unexpected short-term option as Manchester United explore emergency plans in their pursuit of a new coach from the new season.

Ancelotti has a close personal relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and new United director Richard Arnold has been seeking advice since taking over from Ed Woodward earlier this year.

United hope to make a long-term appointment ahead of next season after compiling a list of five coaches that includes Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag.

According to ESPN sources, Ferguson is an admirer of Pochettino, but has recommended that the club consider Ancelotti if the former Tottenham Hotspur coach excludes himself from the race.

Ancelotti, at the helm of Real Madrid, is seen as the type of coach who can be successful in a short period of time due to his vast experience in the Premier League and Champions League, also having a history of managing teams with full of high profile players.

Ralf Rangnick, who took over temporarily following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, also said he could recommend to the board that he remain in the role for another year.

However, United would prefer to have a long-term coach before the start of next season, but there are complications with a number of their key objectives.

Pochettino has been linked with a move to Real Madrid to replace Ancelotti, while there have been suggestions that Ten Hag has reservations about the placement at Old Trafford that has worked well within a clearly defined structure at Ajax.