Fabrizio Romano: Man Utd ‘getting closer’ to interim manager decision

January 7, 2026 Oliver Obel

Manchester United’s efforts to steady a turbulent season following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim have narrowed toward a familiar, short-term solution rather than an immediate long-term reset.

With fixtures coming quickly and little margin for disruption, club officials have focused on appointing an interim figure capable of stabilising the squad while a broader managerial search continues behind the scenes.

Reporting from GIVEMESPORT indicates that United have explored the possibility of bringing back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker manager until the end of the campaign. Former midfielder Michael Carrick has also been approached, though Solskjaer is understood to be the preferred option at this stage.

Darren Fletcher is expected to take charge of Wednesday night’s Premier League match away to Burnley on a temporary basis as talks continue.

United moved swiftly after Amorim was relieved of his duties on Monday following a difficult spell in charge. Rather than rushing into a permanent appointment mid-season, the club appears intent on limiting risk while restoring a measure of continuity.

Fabrizio Romano reported that discussions accelerated on Tuesday, describing Solskjaer’s potential return as increasingly realistic.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said:

“The return of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is really concrete, possible and getting closer. After Solskjaer offered himself to Manchester United, as I told you yesterday, today I spoke to you about contacts and about this possibility becoming real. What happened over the afternoon and evening, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his representatives and Manchester United have been in contact.”

Romano added that negotiations remain ongoing and that Solskjaer is currently viewed as the leading internal candidate for a caretaker role running through the summer, though no final agreement has been reached.

Solskjaer was dismissed in 2021, but his tenure is still regarded by sections of the club and fanbase as one of the steadier periods of United’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Defender Harry Maguire has previously described that time as “fantastic” and “unbelievable.”

During his three years in charge, Solskjaer led United to consecutive top-four finishes and guided them to a Europa League final, where they were narrowly beaten on penalties by Villarreal. He also oversaw a second-place Premier League finish in 2021, a benchmark the club have struggled to approach since.

Across his 168 matches in charge, United scored freely and posted a win rate above 50 percent. While expectations would be modest in a short caretaker spell, supporters may hope that familiarity and attacking intent could help restore some stability over the closing months of the season.

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Sources: GIVEMESPORT, Fabrizio Romano