Solskjaer To Get United Job Before May

Manchester United’s players expect Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be named as the club’s manager on a permanent basis before the end of the season, with sources telling ESPN FC that senior staff at Old Trafford are merely waiting for Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, to confirm the Norwegian as Jose Mourinho’s full-time successor.

Solskjaer guided United to a 14th win in 17 games as caretaker manager with Wednesday’s remarkable 3-1 victory away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The win overturned a 2-0 first-leg defeat to win the tie on away goals and secured United’s place in the quarterfinals of the competition for the first time the 2013-14 season.

The 46-year-old’s success in turning around the club’s fortunes since replacing the sacked Mourinho last December has seen him overtake Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was Woodward’s initial preference for the job, in the pecking order to be named the full-time boss.

The club have insisted that the plan remains for the managerial vacancy to be filled at the end of the season, but there is now a hope within the squad that the uncertainty will come to an end before May. ESPN FC reported last week that United had still not approached any manager, other than Solskjaer, to discuss the long-term position at Old Trafford and sources have said that the mood behind the scenes is now pointing firmly towards Solskjaer being confirmed in the role sooner rather than later.