Ole Gunnar Solskjær could make a shock return to Manchester United as interim manager, with director of football Jason Wilcox considering him a prime candidate. Negotiations between Solskjær's camp and the club are believed to be under way, and senior players including Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire would welcome his temporary appointment.
Solskjær, who remains a fan favourite from his playing days, is intent on taking the role. Should he be appointed, he would hope to make the position permanent if successful, repeating history from December 2018 when he replaced José Mourinho in a caretaker capacity and later secured the permanent job. However, the executive are primarily working on a temporary appointment, so a permanent role seems unlikely at this stage.
Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada view Solskjær as able to positively affect results and restore a feelgood factor. Solskjær and Michael Carrick, the former United midfielder who had a caretaker spell in 2021, are believed to have been contacted on Tuesday. No candidate has been met in person yet, but meetings will occur before an appointment is made.
Solskjær led United to two top-three finishes and the 2021 Europa League final, but was sacked in November 2021 after a poor run. He is currently out of work after being sacked by Besiktas in August. Carrick, who won two and drew one of his three caretaker games, is also open to the position. Darren Fletcher, the stand-in head coach for tonight's match against Burnley, is another candidate until the end of the season.
Fletcher said he sought Sir Alex Ferguson's approval before accepting the emergency role. He confirmed Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount will return from injury for the Burnley match. When asked about the permanent job, Fletcher said his focus is on the upcoming game.
