Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui has been touted as a possible replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United by the agent Jorge Mendes.
Mendes, who represents Cristiano Ronaldo, is understood to be pushing for Lopetegui to replace Solskjaer, whose sacking was confirmed by United on Sunday ahead of the club's penultimate Champions League group stage game at Villarreal on Tuesday.
Lopetegui, the former Spain and Real Madrid coach, led Sevilla to Europa League success last year when they beat United in the semi-finals in Cologne. The 55-year-old is contracted to Sevilla until 2024.
The Manchester Evening News revealed on Saturday night that United had decided to sack Solskjaer, with Michael Carrick taking charge on an interim basis.
Mendes sought swift assurances from the United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward the club would act on the managerial situation after United were thrashed 4-1 at Watford on Saturday.
The United managing director Richard Arnold, who is expected to replace the outgoing Woodward next year, is also believed to have been strongly advised Solskjaer had to be dismissed.
United sources have downplayed speculation surrounding Zinedine Zidane, who coached Ronaldo for two-and-a-half years at Real Madrid when they won three successive Champions Leagues.
Zidane is out of work following his departure from Madrid in the summer and sources close to him said the links with United were untrue.
Lopetegui succeeded Zidane after his first stint as Madrid coach ended in the summer of 2018 and he was subsequently sacked by Spain two days before the opening World Cup fixture against Portugal.
Madrid dismissed Lopetegui four months into his reign following a 5-1 thrashing by Barcelona.
