Manchester United: Steve Round hopes Ryan Giggs will be named Louis van Gaal's successor at Old Trafford

Former Manchester United assistant manager Steve Round hopes Ryan Giggs can replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. The Dutchman has over 18 months left on his contract, but has come under immense pressure as the Red Devils suffered their third straight defeat against Norwich City on 19 December.

United are without a win in the last six matches played in all competitions and a defeat at the hands of Wolfsburg saw them being knocked out from the group stages of the Champions League. Van Gaal admitted he is "worried" about his job after the latest loss to Norwich, which was their first home defeat in the league this season.

The 20-time English champions face Stoke City and Chelsea in the next two fixtures and the Guardian reports that the United manager has two matches to save his job. Liverpool legend Graeme Souness claims Giggs will be Van Gaal's successor and Round, who was a part of David Moyes's coaching staff along with the Welshman, believes Giggs would be the right candidate to become the former Barcelona manager's successor at Old Trafford.

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