Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set for further talks with Manchester United on Saturday, with CEO Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox scheduled for face-to-face discussions with the Norwegian. The club is considering bringing the former manager back to Old Trafford until the end of the season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, as the hierarchy seeks more time to appoint a permanent successor in the summer.
Solskjaer is not the only candidate; Michael Carrick, who served as his assistant during his previous interim and permanent stint, is also an option. Whoever takes the role will receive an immediate boost with the imminent return of Bryan Mbeumo. The forward, signed from Brentford in the summer for a fee worth up to £71 million, has impressed this campaign. He was at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, who reached the quarter-finals before losing to hosts Morocco.
Mbeumo is now set to fly back to Manchester and could feature in the Manchester derby on Saturday, January 17, which may be the first game for the new caretaker coach if appointed in time. However, Noussair Mazraoui is likely to miss out as Morocco continue in AFCON, and Amad is also still involved with Ivory Coast, who face Egypt in the quarter-finals.
All three players will definitely miss the FA Cup tie with Brighton this weekend. Interim coach Darren Fletcher will take charge of his second game, having guided the team to a 2-2 draw with Burnley in midweek. With key players like Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo returning from injury, United will hope for a similar attacking performance to secure a win against the Seagulls.
Fletcher emphasised the importance of the FA Cup, stating, 'It’s an important competition and Manchester United are about winning trophies. We’ve had good success in recent years... it’s a trophy we should be vying to win.' A victory would be an ideal way for Fletcher to potentially conclude his interim duties and usher in the new caretaker manager.
