Former Sky Sports host Richard Keys has outlined his strategy for rebuilding Manchester United, which begins with the dismissal of Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils were outworked in their 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Saturday evening, and the Dutchman’s future at Old Trafford remains precarious.

United are five points below Aston Villa in fourth position and bottom of their Champions League group, prompting Keys to demand that Ten Hag be fired. Only Crystal Palace and the four poorest Premier League sides have scored fewer goals than United this season, and Keys believes it’s time for the former Ajax head coach to leave, with Xabi Alonso taking his place.

Alonso played for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009 before retiring and taking over at Bayer Leverkusen, where he led them to the Bundesliga title by playing some thrilling football. However, Keys has urged that he be handed a five-year contract at United, identical to the one Sir Alex Ferguson had previously.

“What is the answer to what has happened at Manchester United?” Keys asked on beIN SPORTS. “I thought about that a lot and here is my theory. I would thank the current coach for his time. If I couldn’t go out and get my top target immediately I would then be treading water until I can.

“But the man that I think that Manchester United should get… United are no longer in a position where if top players become available, they are going to sign for United. They are just not going to sign for Manchester United anymore. They can’t go out and do what they once did and sign everybody else’s best player.

“In my view, Manchester United should go now to Leverkusen and they should say to Xabi Alonso: ‘We want you to come to Old Trafford. We will give you Saudi League money and we will guarantee you five years’. Which is what Fergie had when he first went to Manchester United.”