Former Manchester United assistant Steve Round believes Ryan Giggs deserves to be the club's next manager.

The Welshman is currently Louis van Gaal's right hand man after stepping into the coaching caper when his playing career was winding down in 2013.

With van Gaal's tenure under a cloud following a six-game winless run, there is plenty of speculation on who could replace the Dutchman as Jose Mourinho's name begins to be linked with the Old Trafford role.

However, David Moyes' former assistant Round suggests the job should be Giggs'.

"I would hope so, I think that is the right and proper succession plan for Manchester United," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"Ryan was an absolutely magnificent player; he is certainly one of the best players I've ever worked with in the short period of time I was there. He was phenomenal, even at 39 years of age.

"Then he has stepped into coaching, with us he was part-coach, part-player. Now he has stepped into being an assistant manager - the natural progression for him is to go on to be a manager.

"You would assume that would be at Manchester United; that's what they are grooming him for and getting him ready to take over eventually when that time comes. I think that is only right and proper - he needs and deserves to have that opportunity.

"Manchester United, to move forward, need to give him a chance to either succeed and thrive or fail and move away. I think that is part of the process and journey on Ryan Giggs' career path."