MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly set to sign a new three-year deal worth £27million despite suffering heartbreak in the Europa League final.
The Red Devils lost an astonishing penalty shoot-out 11-10 to Villarreal as Solskjaer missed the opportunity to claim his first silverware as manager of the club.
But The Telegraph claims that the disappointing end to the campaign has not dissuaded Man Utd bosses from offering the Norwegian a new contract.
And it has also been reported that Solskjaer will be backed in the summer transfer window.
It is said that he will be given the funds to sign up to four players before the start of the new season as they look to close the 12-point gap to Premier League champions Manchester City.
Man Utd have been linked with a number of big name signings this summer including Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho and Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
They are also reportedly sizing up the possibility of bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club as his future at Juventus remains uncertain.
There has been a steady domestic progression for Man Utd since Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho at the end of 2018.
After finishing sixth in his first season in charge, he the guided them to third in the 2019-20 campaign.
And that has been followed up by a second place finish this season, albeit well adrift of Man City at the top.
WIN £50,000! Play Dream Team Euros – our FREE fantasy football game
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Solskjaer’s win percentage – 55.63 per cent – is lower than his predecessor Jose Mourinho but higher than both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
TalkSPORT’s Jason Cundy slammed Man Utd’s performance in Gdansk against Villarreal and believes the failure should signal the end of Solskjaer’s reign.
He also believes former Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte should replace the ex-Red Devils striker.
Cundy said: “There’s nothing positive, it was a disaster, this is a disaster for Ole.
“This was his big moment to prove everyone including me wrong, and he’s proved me right.
“That display was enough, I’ve seen enough there to move in a different direction. I don’t see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the man for Manchester United.
“Ole is held in such high regard, he’s a lovely guy and he’s well liked, he doesn’t seem like a bad person at all, but this is a ruthless industry.
“Going into next season there is a perfect break now, this is the perfect time.
“It’s hard to hear, but the truth is he is not up to Man United’s standard, he’s simply not.
“Antonio Conte, he’s won the Premier League and he’s just won the Serie A title, he knows how to win titles and he is a ruthless manager, he knows how to get a tune out of a team.
“He’s managed Italy at the World Cup – we’re talking about a seriously experienced man.
“Look, I’d prefer it if you didn’t [given his Chelsea links] but right now when I heard the news today [of Conte’s rumoured Inter exit] and I see that result – go and get him!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
