Manchester United sacked Jose Mourinho this morning and have put Michael Carrick in charge for two days but are planning to appoint a caretaker until the end of the season.
United want a man steeped in the tradition of the club and Solskjaer could be their man.
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Lauren Blanc is currently the bookmakers favourite but Express Sport understand Solskjaer is a candidate for the role until the end of the season.
The 45-year-old played for United between 1996-2007 and is now managing Molde in Norway.
He was Manchester United reserve boss in 2008-2011 before joining Molde.
Solskjaer had a spell in the Premier League as Cardiff boss but took them down to the Championship and was sacked in September of his second season.
Sky Sports reporter James Cooper delivered an update on the situation this morning.
“I’ve spoken to several senior sources connected at Manchester United and the one thing they’ve emphasised to me is that the next person coming in, his job is to bring back and restore the positive attitude,” Cooper told Sky Sports News.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be appointed as Manchester United manager until the end of the season (Image: GETTY)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could replace Jose Mourinho after he was sacked (Image: GETTY)
“They are not saying it’s not positive but the implication is that things have turned from bad to worse behind the scenes.
“The next person, who they have targeted, who they have sorted out, who they have spoken to, I believe the deal is being done and we’ll know in the next 48 hours.
“No-one is telling me if it’s British or European at the moment but they are telling me that we will enjoy working with on a journalistic basis and he’s someone who understand the values of Manchester United.”
Mourinho has paid the price for overseeing a woeful season at Old Trafford that has left United languishing in sixth place in the Premier League table.
United’s 3-1 drubbing at bitter rivals Liverpool proved the final straw for executive vice chairman Ed Woodward.
The defeat left United 19 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders, out of the title race and 11 points off the the top four and Champions League qualification.
Express Sport understands Woodward held long talks with co-owner Joel Glazer, who is based in Florida, last night, before deciding to pull the plug on Mourinho’s controversial reign at Old Trafford.
Cooper says the decision left Mourinho ‘shocked’.
“He was told at Carrington’s AON training complex this morning, face to face by the executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, that his time at Manchester United was coming to an end,” he explained.
“He was surprised by that. Results haven’t been great but it does show decisive action on Manchester United’s part.
“There is an idea here that, following two bad performances against Valencia and then against Liverpool, and with a clump of games coming up, there’s a chance for the next person to get some momentum going and build something.”