Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is understood to be ready to offer his former assistant, Carlos Queiroz, as his deputy, if the Portuguese is sacked by Real Madrid.

When asked about Queiroz’s position after Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat by Osasuna, Real Madrid president Florentin Perez said: “Now is not the time to talk about that. We brought Queiroz in to win things.”

The cub have a history of sacking coachesd and lasst season dimissed Vicente del Bosque despite him winning two Champions League trophies in four years in charge.

Perez, who faces re-election in July, is still interested in securing England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson but the Swede signed a new contract with the Football Association last month.

Queiroz was widely credited with organising United’s defence which helped them win the league title last year.

He would be warmly welcomed back at a club where his original appointment was “the best decision I ever made,” according to Ferguson. Ferguson’s current number 2, former Everton and Rangers manager Walter Smith, was signed on a short term basis and is expected to leave at the end of the season.