MANCHESTER UNITED could be stuck with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until the end of the season – despite links with Brendan Rodgers and Zinedine Zidane.
The two managers are the favourites to replace the Norwegian in the Old Trafford dugout.
Crushing defeats to Liverpool and City at home have left him clinging on to his post.
But Solskjaer could be on course for a reprieve that would see him kept on until next summer.
That is because, according to the Mirror, a new manager would want a full season to begin with, rather than coming in midway through the campaign.
Although the January transfer window is just seven weeks away, the possible new manager would not be given time to properly work on the training ground with new tactics.
And he would largely be stuck with the same, under-performing squad.
Rodgers – the No1 target for United – still has high hopes of winning silverware with Leicester this season following his FA Cup and Community Shield successes in 2021.
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The Foxes are into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and know qualification for the Europa League knockouts is in their hands.
Zidane, meanwhile, is a free agent after leaving Real Madrid in May.
But it is understood he too would prefer a pre-season to get to know his players.
The report also links Mauricio Pochettino with the United job.
He is in a similar position to Rodgers with Paris Saint-Germain, desperate to get the best out of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi to secure the Champions League for the French side.
ASolskjaer is not set to be sacked imminently – although two of his former team-mates are calling for him to go.
Rio Ferdinand said: “Now might be the time for that baton to be handed over to somebody else who can take us on.
“Ole would leave now with his head held high. From when he came in to where he got us, at the beginning of this season, has been positive.
“He has come in and done what he was brought in to do. He has given the fans hope again.
“But is he going to take us to titles and win the Champions League? I have to be honest with myself and I don’t think so, no.”
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In his rant after United’s loss to City, Roy Keane added: “Manchester United are in a bad place but there is a way out of it. Is Ole the man to do it? Huge question marks.
“Every time there is a bad result, Ole is the man to blame.
“Ole can’t seem to win but he needs to look himself in the mirror and go ‘I need to do better here’. Ole, you might be better off out of it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
