Manchester United are closing in on naming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker manager following the sacking of Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer would be returning for his second spell in charge of the Red Devils, having been caretaker manager following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho in 2018, later becoming the permanent manager for the next three years.
GIVEMESPORT understands that the United legend was due to hold face-to-face talks with club officials Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox over the weekend, with Michael Carrick also in line for talks over a role.
It Could be Solskjaer and Carrick Back at Old Trafford
Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
GIVEMESPORT understands that Carrick would be open to an assistant role at the club under Solskjaer, if United make the decision to go with Solskjaer on a caretaker basis until the end of the 2025/26 season.
Darren Fletcher was in charge for United's 2-2 draw with Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday, with the former midfielder in the dugout for the FA Cup third round clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday too.
United will hope to have a caretaker successor for Amorim in place before next weekend's huge Manchester Derby with City at Old Trafford. It will be a baptism of fire for whomever the club decides to appoint.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Has Strong Relationship With Manchester United Players
ole gunnar solskjaer
Solskjaer was well liked by the players at Old Trafford during his three-year spell at the helm. After eventually helping the club to sixth in the Premier League table in his first half-season in charge, Solskjaer went on to take United to third and second-placed finishes in the top flight, with a runners-up medal in the Europa League in 2021 too.
Speaking about his time in charge with Rio Ferdinand, Harry Maguire was glowing.
"I felt like Ole did an unbelievable job, the way he set us up in those first two years was probably the best I've felt in a team. Under Ole, Kieran [McKenna] and Carra (Michael Carrick). Those three they had us so well organised, we didn't have, I wouldn't say, the best team, we were just so well coached, tactically brilliant, could be pragmatic, we could play, we could press."
Two of those three coaching staff could be making their return to the club in the coming days, with Solskjaer and Carrick set for a one and two role at United.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Solskjaer was "ready to say yes" to Manchester United days ago, with advanced talks over completing the deal unlikely to have any issues.
Two Current United Players Who Love Solskjaer
Harry Maguire in action for Manchester United
Maguire was one of three United players to remain in contact with Solskjaer after he left United, with Bruno Fernandes one of the others.
"Harry has always been a leader and a fighter and I was never in doubt when I signed him that he would be captain," he said last year. "Of course there's another captain there, Bruno, the two of them are top human beings. Them two and Victor are probably the only ones I've heard from in the club since I left, so you want the best for them."
The Portuguese always had a good relationship with the Norwegian and is understood to support the decision to bring him back to the club. Solskjaer brought Fernandes to the club in 2020 and the midfielder said back then that he was "really happy to be training with him".
Given the controversy around Fernandes' future at the club, with the Portuguese openly admitting that the club wanted to sell him in the summer and the disappointment he felt as a result of that, bringing in Solskjaer could help smooth relations between player and club.