Gary Neville prefers Mauricio Pochettino to Erik ten Hag to take the Manchester United job

Gary Neville has thrown his weight behind Mauricio Pochettino to take up the permanent position as manager of Manchester United.

Pochettino, as well as Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, have long been considered the favourites to replace interim boss Ralf Rangnick at the end of the season.

The former Manchester United defender has regularly voiced his support for Pochettino to take up the role in the Old Trafford dugout.

However, questions have been raised over whether he is the right man for the job, in particular, after PSG's disappointing Champions League exit to Real Madrid.

In a message posted on Twitter, Neville says he would still choose the 50-year-old, even if it isn't the popular decision among the club's supporters.

He wrote: 'Personally I would go for Pochettino but Ten Hag is the massive favourite of United fans to take the club forward. That's if it is a clear choice between the 2.'

Neville then defended his pick when he was asked if he had watched PSG.

He responded: 'Yes! I also watched Tuchel's PSG go out against us . He’s done ok.'

Ten Hag spoke to United on Monday as the Red Devils stepped up their search to find the next permanent manager.

United sources on Tuesday said a number of candidates are being interviewed from a list that includes Pochettino, Julen Lopetegui and Luis Enrique.

Thomas Tuchel is no longer considered a viable option. Ten Hag, previously linked with Tottenham and Newcastle, is the bookies' favourite to take over.

United hope to make a decision before the end of next month and have the new man in place as soon as possible after the end of the season.

The club are urging caution over the speculation that Ten Hag is the favourite.

Sources insist that a research process overseen by football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher was only completed at the start of this month, allowing initial conversations with candidates to get underway which have now evolved into formal interviews.

At Ajax, meanwhile, the expectancy is that their coach will leave at the end of this campaign.

United will also have to speak to his formidable agent Kees Vos, who negotiated Robin van Persie's move to Old Trafford from Arsenal a decade ago and only recently added Guardiola's brother Pere to his Sports Entertainment Group.

Ajax have indicated they will not stand in Ten Hag's way and have a good relationship with United through their chief executive Edwin van der Sar, but there would still be compensation in the region of £4million.

Speaking in December, Neville said Pochettino's experience of the Premier League would make him the right man for the job.

He said on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football: 'I would like Pochettino to be the next manager. I think that he has got experience of the league, he would play the right type of football.

'It feels like the moment for him to step up. He's got to the Champions League final and is now managing big stars, some big characters and personalities. That will help him and I've always liked him. I have always loved the way that he has operated.

'He fits the club and he works well with young players. He gets the best out of players. He's a good coach. He also works with people the right way.'