Jamie Carragher has a stern warning for Manchester United if they fail to get Pep Guardiola

It's difficult to remember a more intriguing time than now on the European managerial carousel.

With Jose Mourinho sacked this week, Louis van Gaal not doing the business for Manchester United and Pep Guardiola reportedly preparing to tell Bayern Munich that his time in the Bundesliga is done, the next few months make for very interesting boardroom discussions. Will Guardiola come to England, as he has often indicated a desire to do? And if so, which fortunate club will he end up at? Both Manchester clubs already have managers in place. Chelsea are unlikely to be able to wait until the summer for his services. And Leicester already have the greatest manager in the world... Jamie Carragher has some very strong thoughts on Guardiola and the impact that he could have in the Premier League. And, in his Daily Mail column, Carragher has warned Manchester United that to ignore Guardiola's possible availability could be the first steps down the wrong road, especially if their noisy neighbours take advantage.

"In the last couple of years, City have overtaken United on all levels and it has nothing to do with money. United have spent plenty but City have won more trophies, their squad is better, their recruitment has been smarter and their academy has put United's in the shadow.

"Should City then get Guardiola, how do United compete?

"If things continue as they have been at United, the clamour for change will grow and Ryan Giggs will come into the frame to succeed Van Gaal. If he ever gets the chance to manage United, I feel he will do well. Of all the contenders to be the next United manager, nobody knows the club better.

"Yet that would be the only advantage Giggs has over Guardiola. With his experience, his pedigree and his magnetism can you imagine any player choosing to go to Old Trafford when Guardiola is only five miles up the road?

"It wouldn't happen. They have been linked with Ronaldo, Neymar and Gareth Bale in recent weeks but those free spirits would not want to play for United with the current style of play. A manager such as Guardiola would unlock the door to the high end of the market."