Chelsea have been plunged into chaos in recent weeks after owner Roman Abramovich's close ties with Russia president Vladimir Putin led to his assets being seized by the UK government.
Tuchel has been at Chelsea for just over a year, and has led the Blues to the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in his time at the club.
Manchester United are yet to appoint a full-time manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal last year, with Ralph Rangnick placed in an interim role until the end of the season.
‘Manchester United have been presented with the ideal opportunity to recruit the manager who should be their number one target: Thomas Tuchel,’ Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column.
‘Given the events at Chelsea, United’s decision to wait until the end of the season presents them with a choice no-one could have foreseen. One of the best managers in the world – the current FIFA coach of the year – must be top of their list.
‘Tuchel, like everyone else at Stamford Bridge, will have no idea what the future holds at his current club. No-one can offer him any assurances about how the squad will look at the start of next season given the club’s sale is on hold.
‘No manager wants to be working amid such a background of uncertainty. If he gets the chance to leave for a club of United’s stature, he must take it.
‘United can offer him the security and backing every top coach craves. Yes, it will seem a predatory move – taking advantage of Chelsea’s crisis – but from United and Tuchel’s perspective the more you consider it, the more of a no-brainer it is.'
