Former Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under consideration as the Red Devils search for Erik ten Hag’s successor, according to reports.

Ten Hag was sacked as Man Utd first team coach on Monday after a disappointing start to the season.

They slipped to 14th in the Premier League table after their fourth league defeat of the season, against West Ham on Sunday.

Man Utd fell to the bottom half of the table after the defeat against the Hammers, where Jarrod Bowen’s penalty in stoppage time snatched three points from the East Londoners.

Speculation has grown over the Dutchman’s position in recent weeks and few people will have been shocked to see Ten Hag lose his job.

Man Utd’s new interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and fellow assistant Rene Hake have both left their roles as Eredivisie first-team head coaches, with PSV Eindhoven and the Go Ahead Eagles respectively, before joining Ten Hag at Old Trafford before the start of the season.

There had already been speculation that Van Nistelrooy could replace Ten Hag when he was named assistant this summer.

And now the Manchester Evening News claims that Man Utd ‘could be restricted to executive free agents’ with INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe working on a tight budget.

After missing out on Thomas Tuchel in the England national team, Man Utd “may have to turn to another unemployed manager” in the form of former Red Devils boss Solskjaer.

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THE MEN adds that the Man Utd board “has not ruled out a formal approach for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they may be restricted to executive free agents”.

The report adds:

“United figures fear they will struggle to buy out a manager outside of their contract, with Erik ten Hag owed around £17million in compensation following his dismissal.

“Solskjaer has been out of management since being let go by United in November 2021 and is under consideration for a return to Old Trafford. It is unclear whether United view him as a serious long-term option as manager or backroom staff member Solskjaer’s former teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy will step in as United find a permanent replacement for Ten Hag.

Reacting to the sacking, former Man Utd defender Gary Neville said Aerial sports: “The big shock for me was how bad they were with the new recruits who arrived.

“I felt like they would have enough to be able to get a decent level of performance together after a smoother transfer window, and that Erik ten Hag would get a level of stability.

“The fact that they are 14th is unacceptable. You can’t be 14th after nine or ten games with the level of spending that has been achieved without being under significant pressure – and that’s what happened.

“I was hoping it would end differently. I think Manchester United fans were hoping that the manager would continue to keep his job and that the faith shown in him this summer would pay off. But that was not the case. »

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