Steve Bruce 'would be very keen' on replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Man United

Steve Bruce is reportedly interested in replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager at Manchester United.

United sacked Solskjaer in the aftermath of their 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Watford - which was their fifth league defeat in seven games.

Michael Carrick will take over for the next few games, before an interim manager is put in place until the end of the season.

The Athletic have reported that former United defender Steve Bruce would be interested in taking on the vacancy at Old Trafford.

Bruce has been out of work since he was sacked by Newcastle last month following the club's Saudi-led takeover.

The 60-year-old believes he could help stabilise the dressing room at his former club.

Former England and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has tipped Bruce to take on the role as interim boss before a permanent manager is hired in the summer.

He told Premier League Productions: 'To move Ole on and to bring someone in, it's a lot of money.

'I know they've got a lot of money to spend but you've got to look at the books and you've got to look at where they are.

'Maybe is a Steve Bruce good? For just six months? I don't know. Who knows?

'But it's a real kind of sticky wicket big time, because either they stick or move. Whatever they do, it might be the wrong answer.'

As a player, Bruce spent nine seasons at the club and was a vital part of Sir Alex Ferguson's success in the early days of the Premier League.

He won three league titles and as many FA Cups before he left the club in the summer of 1996.

Now 25 years later, his club are in turmoil after their awful start to the season, which has included humiliating defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City.

In Solskjaer's latter days at Old Trafford there was said to be unrest among the camp.

As previously reported, some of United's biggest stars were frustrated with the club's alarming start to the season after they were heavily expected to challenge for top honours.

Bruno Fernandes was among the senior players who felt they weren't getting enough direction from Solskjaer and his coaching staff.

Cristiano Ronaldo who was one of the club's big-name signings in the summer, was alarmed with how standards have dropped since he left United 12 years ago.

Players at the club are also sympathetic with the way Donny van de Beek has been treated by Solskjaer since he arrived at Old Trafford at the start of last season.

Despite growing up a Newcastle fan, Bruce was unable to win himself over with the club's supporters with regular calls for him to leave the club throughout his tenure.

United have been linked with a number of big name managers to replace Solskjaer, including Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, Leicester's Brendan Rodgers and Zinedine Zidane.