Warren Joyce has enjoyed success with Manchester United's under-21 team. Getty Images

Manchester United under-21 manager Warren Joyce is in talks with Wigan Athletic over becoming their new manager, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.

Wigan have been searching for a new manager following Gary Caldwell's sacking earlier this week with the club languishing second from bottom of the Championship table.

Former Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs was in the frame for the job as he looks for his first role in management, but it appears his former Old Trafford colleague Joyce is set to land the role.

Joyce has been working at Manchester United since 2008 and managed the U21 side along with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before taking sole charge in December 2010, guiding them to their third U21 Premier League title in four seasons last term.

The 51-year-old, who had a spell as player-manager with Hull City and two seasons in Belgium as coach of Royal Antwerp, is keen to make the step up to manage at a higher level and he was interviewed for the Blackburn Rovers job last summer before Owen Coyle was appointed.

Joyce is highly regarded in coaching circles as a result of his success with United's under-21s and he has developed the likes of Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck and Paul Pogba among others from the reserves into the first-team.