Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane wants Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone to become the club’s next manager.

The Red Devils were held to a frustrating goalless draw by relegation-threatened Watford last Saturday and face a derby clash with leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

Interim boss Ralf Rangnick is set to be in charge until the end of the campaign before a decision is made on his successor.

And Keane, 50, made clear who he feels is best suited for the role when speaking on The Overlap Live event at the Manchester Apollo.

"Maybe Simeone, he’s the right kind of character," Keane said. "He’s having a difficult spell with Atletico. His race has maybe run with them.

"Simeone, go and get him, he’s a big character. He’s done great things. He’s a great character, a big personality. He doesn’t mess around with players. Maybe someone like him coming into the club could work.

"It can soon change. I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, there’s still good things going on at United, but they’ve got to get the manager.

"If the manager is not right, then the rest will just fall apart."

In a typically passionate rant, the former Sunderland and Ipswich boss also suggested United have been guilty of appointing managers based on their availability in years gone by.

Keane continued: "Going back to David Moyes, his contract was up at Everton so they brought him in. [Louis] van Gaal was available, didn’t cost them any compensation. [Jose] Mourinho was available.

"Even Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer], his situation was pretty straightforward with his club. The current manager, too. It’s as if they won’t go and prise a top manager away from a club.

"It’s like when people say that someone is tied up at a club. If you really want a manager, just like when you want a player, you go and get him.

"You pay fortunes for players. If you think someone is the right manager for Manchester United, you go and get him. Pay the money, whoever it might be."

Pep Guardiola’s City beat United 2-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign and will be favourites to inflict more misery on their rivals at the Etihad this weekend.