Manchester United are moving closer to a familiar solution as the search for a short-term manager gathers pace. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club are now close to appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker manager until the end of the season. Talks have accelerated quickly. United want stability. They want calm. And right now, they want someone who understands the building without needing time to learn it. Solskjaer fits that brief.
United sacked Ruben Amorim earlier this week after a disappointing 14-month spell. Results dipped. Confidence drained. The club decided not to wait. In the immediate aftermath, Darren Fletcher was lined up to oversee the Burnley game. That was always temporary. Behind the scenes, discussions began almost straight away.
GIVEMESPORT reported that United made contact with Solskjaer, along with Michael Carrick, about stepping in until the summer. Solskjaer quickly emerged as the leading option. Conversations with his representatives followed. By Tuesday evening, things had moved on again. Romano described the situation as “really concrete” and “getting closer”. Not speculation. Not early feelers. Actual talks.
🚨 Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Manchester United advance in positive talks over caretaker manager role.
As revealed yesterday, Ole wants the job and he’s a serious candidate with talks well underway.
No issues on contract lenght. Ole is ready to say YES.
Up to #MUFC. pic.twitter.com/jjsJQgbf8i
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 6, 2026
WHY SOLSKJAER MAKES SENSE NOW
This is not about long-term vision. It is about control. United do not want another rushed appointment. They also do not want drift. A caretaker allows them to reset without committing to a project mid-season.
Solskjaer knows the squad. He knows the expectations. He knows the pressure. That matters when time is short. There is also familiarity in the dressing room. Several senior players remain from his previous spell. That reduces friction. It shortens adaptation. For United’s hierarchy, that counts.
HIS RECORD STILL STANDS UP
Solskjaer’s first spell did not end well. That is not forgotten. But the wider picture is more balanced. He guided United to back-to-back top-four finishes. He reached a Europa League final and finished second in the Premier League in 2021. Since then, no permanent manager has matched that league position. His team scored freely. Performances were often open. Sometimes chaotic. But rarely passive. That attacking intent is something United have lacked in recent months.
PLAYER SUPPORT REMAINS STRONG
Solskjaer still has allies inside the squad. Harry Maguire recently described him as “fantastic” and “unbelievable” when reflecting on past managers. That support matters. Especially now. United are fragile. Confidence is thin. A caretaker needs buy-in immediately. Solskjaer is more likely to get that than an external short-term option. Players know what he expects. They know how he communicates. There are fewer unknowns.
HOW UNITED ARE APPROACHING THIS CALL
This is not a romantic reunion. United are not turning back the clock. It is a practical move. A holding pattern. A way to steady things while bigger decisions are made in the background. Solskjaer would not be tasked with rebuilding the squad or redefining the club’s identity. His job would be simpler. Get results. Restore clarity. Keep the season alive. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.
There is also a sense that this appointment buys time internally. United’s hierarchy can reassess long-term options without the pressure of an immediate call. That breathing room matters. A caretaker spell allows conversations to happen properly, rather than under the weight of weekly results and constant noise.
WHAT COMES NEXT
If an agreement is finalised, Solskjaer could be in place quickly. United want clarity before the next run of fixtures. Burnley comes first. Then tougher tests follow. The margin for error is small. This is not a risk-free choice. But it is a controlled one.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
This feels less like nostalgia and more like necessity. United need familiarity, not upheaval. Solskjaer offers that. He may not be the future, but he could be the pause United badly need right now.
As featured on ManUNews.com