Manchester United icon Laurent Blanc and Julen Lopetegui have reportedly emerged as surprise candidates to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. United are currently considering their options after coming to the decision to sack Solskjaer following their 4-1 drubbing against Watford.
The United board held an emergency meeting last night and decided to axe Solskjaer following a dire run of form that has seen slip 12 points behind league leaders Chelsea.
United are expected to confirm Solskjaer’s departure in the next 24-48 hours and have already begun the process of searching for his successor.
A number of names have been heavily linked, including Zinedine Zidane and Brendan Rodgers.
Reports emerged last night that United had settled on Zidane but will first appoint an interim boss with the Frenchman keen to wait until the summer before returning to management.
Darren Fletcher, who currently works as the Red Devils’ technical director, is understood to be the favourite to take charge of United’s penultimate Champions League group game against Villarreal on Tuesday.
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According to the Athletic, another surprise name being mentioned is former Real Madrid manager Lopetegui.
The report states that Sevilla boss has been proposed as a long-term alternative.
The Spaniard famously lasted just three months at Real Madrid but has restored his reputation at Sevilla, winning the Europa League and securing back-to-back fourth-place finishes.
He attracted interest from Tottenham back in the summer but rejected a ‘dizzying offer’ to remain in LaLiga. It is not yet clear if his stance on staying on Sevilla would change if United made a move for him.
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