United identify “leading contender” to take over from Amorim, INEOS have already begun talks – Ornstein

Former Manchester United striker and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in line to make a sensational return to the club, The Athletic’s David Ornstein and Laurie Whitwell have now confirmed. United are on the hunt for a caretaker boss to steer the ship until the end of the season after sacking Ruben Amorim on Monday morning. Amorim was let go after an extremely turbulent 14 months as head coach. In their official announcement, United said that they decided to part ways with Amorim in an effort to give the team the best chance of finishing as high as possible in the Premier League table. There have since been swirling reports that Amorim fell out with the United hierarchy, and more specifically director of football Jason Wilcox. It’s understood that the pair clashed over key issues such as tactical approach and January transfer plans. Eventually, a parting of ways was deemed as the only acceptable outcome. Darren Fletcher has temporarily been placed in charge of the team ahead of Wednesday evening’s meeting with Burnley at Turf Moor. United’s idea is to bring in an interim boss who will see out the season, before then making a permanent appointment in the summer. At the moment, Solskjaer and Michael Carrick’s names appear to be popping up the most in the media. A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Solskjaer would not think twice about returning to United, having enjoyed so much success there as a player and a promising managerial run before it came to an end in November 2021. Under the Norwegian, the Red Devils managed the club’s first back-to-back top-four league finishes since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and reached the Europa League final, losing to Spanish outfit Villarreal on penalties. According to Ornstein and Whitwell, Solskjaer features highly on United’s list. The Athletic journalists report, “Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a leading contender to become Manchester United’s caretaker manager after holding talks with the club on Tuesday.” “The club is firmly behind Fletcher in what is expected to be at least two games at the helm, but have also held early conversations with several candidates, including Solskjaer.” “The Norwegian has a house in Cheshire and would be open to stepping in and helping a club he still has a deep affinity for should the opportunity arise.” Ornstein and Whitwell note that Ruud van Nistelrooy is also in the frame for the job. Solskjaer has been without a job since leaving Besiktas in August 2025. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!