Manchester United have reportedly contacted Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers as they look to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 20-time champions of England relieved the Norwegian of his duties on Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at Watford extended United’s slump to four losses in the last five Premier League outings.
United have placed Michael Carrick in interim charge but, according to The Sun, are moving quickly to appoint a new permanent manager and have made contact with Rodgers.
Brendan Rodgers has apparently been approached by Manchester United to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford
The Norwegian was sacked on Sunday with United in the middle of a dismal run of form
The report adds the Old Trafford hierarchy would be prepared to pay Leicester £8 million in compensation to lure the 48-year-old away from the King Power Stadium.
Speaking ahead of Leicester’s match against Chelsea on Friday, Rodgers said it was ‘really disrespectful’ to ask him to comment on the rumours linking him with the United job.
‘There’s two things. Firstly it is really disrespectful to ask the question when you have a manager in place, a good manager and a good man, who is working hard at the club,’ he said.
‘Secondly I can’t really comment on it, because it is not something that is real.
Rodgers said speculation linking him with the Manchester United job ‘is not real’
PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino is also on United’s shortlist to replace Solskjaer
As is former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who is apparently not keen on United
‘I am here as the Leicester City manager, proud to be here, privileged to be here and fully committed to the players, the club, the ownership.
‘That’s about it, all the other noise around that is something we can’t control.’
By Sunday night, however, bookmakers had installed the former Liverpool boss as the favourite to replace Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
At 7/2 Rodgers led the list of candidates with Betfair, ahead of former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino, a 5/1 and 6/1 shot respectively.
As reported by Sportsmail, the latter would be ready to quit PSG and return to the Premier League because he is unhappy in the French capital.
The former Tottenham boss is said to be frustrated at managing a dressing-room with big egos like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and lives in a hotel in Paris, while his family remain in London.
According to BBC Sport, meanwhile, Zidane ‘is not interested in taking over’ at Old Trafford, despite being approached by the club.
Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag and former Red Bull Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick are also thought to be on United’s shortlist.
First team coach Michael Carrick (middle) will replace Solskjaer for the next games before the club appoints an interim coach for the rest of the season
In a statement announcing Solskjaer’s departure, United confirmed they were looking to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season. Carrick, however, is expected to take charge of games against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday and Chelsea in the Premier League four days later.
‘Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as manager and our very best wishes for the future,’ the statement read.
‘His place in the club’s history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a manager who gave us many great moments. He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family.
‘Michael Carrick will now take charge of the team for forthcoming games, while the club looks to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season.’