Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has held discussions with the Glazer family and Manchester United hierarchy in the last week, over taking the job full-time at the end of the season.
Although the club previously had little intention of making the Old Trafford legend permanent manager in December, he has proven so convincing that a series of key sources now see it as almost inevitable.
United officials have been especially impressed with the way Solskjaer has the major investments – like Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial – actually performing like world-class players who are now justifying their price, and more generally the mood around the club.
Join Independent Minds
For exclusive articles, events and an advertising-free read for just
£5.99
€6.99
$9.99
a month
Get the best of The Independent
With an Independent Minds subscription for just
£5.99
€6.99
$9.99
a month
Get the best of The Independent
Without the ads – for just
£5.99
€6.99
$9.99
a month
The feelings of happiness and progress, as well as positive media coverage and fan reaction, have also been influential.
Key to the thought process is also the knowledge that Mauricio Pochettino would be hugely difficult to get, but there is now more to it than that.
1/17 Ranking the last 16 of the Champions League
Who is most likely to win the tournament as we reach the knockout stages? Let’s take a look
AFP/Getty Images
2/17 16. Schalke
Despite steering clear of a shock relegation battle in the Bundesliga, it would still be a surprise if Domenico Tedesco’s side are still in the tie heading back to the Etihad for the second leg
EPA
3/17 15. Ajax
Blessed with some absurd talents such as Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt, Ajax’s slick football, which unsettled Bayern in both group matches, could threaten to end Real’s dynasty prematurely
AFP/Getty Images
4/17 14. Lyon
Impressively rattled City during the group stages and beat PSG in Ligue 1, meaning Bruno Genesio’s side should not be underestimated by Barcelona, who have not won away in the knockout stages since 2015/16
AP
5/17 13. Porto
The Portuguese side took advantage of a weak group to go unbeaten and received more good fortune to draw an inconsistent Roma here, meaning they could sneak into the quarter-finals
EPA
6/17 12. Roma
Last year’s surprise team are gradually rediscovering themselves after a mixed season, with the emergence of wonderkid Nicolo Zaniolo perhaps sparking them into life at just the right time
AFP/Getty Images
7/17 11. Tottenham
Undone by Juve’s wiliness last season, injuries have come at just the wrong time for Spurs, though an resurgent Dortmund lack experience, which could give Mauricio Pochettino’s side a chance
AFP/Getty Images
8/17 10. Borussia Dortmund
A fearless side with mercurial talent all over the pitch, namely Jadon Sancho, Lucien Favre has constructed a dangerous side who could go far given their formidable home advantage
AFP/Getty Images
9/17 9. Manchester United
Revitalised under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and with world class talent Paul Pogba facing an attractive match-up against PSG, United appear well placed to pull off the upset
Man Utd via Getty Images
10/17 8. Bayern Munich
The German champions aren’t what they once were and with doubts lingering over manager Nico Kovac allied with up and down form back in the Bundesliga, Liverpool will fancy their chances of knocking them out in the last-16
AFP/Getty Images
11/17 7. Atletico Madrid
Another former league champion who aren’t quite at that level right now Atletico head into the knockout phase off the back of back-to-back La Liga defeats. Diego Simeone’s men will always come prepared but Juve present a stiff test of that famed resolve
EPA
12/17 6. Paris Saint-Germain
The French champions have their eyes firmly trained on this competition but head into the last-16 with injuries to a number of key players with Neymar the headline absentee. Add in Manchester United’s resurgence and their chances of progression look in the balance
AFP/Getty Images
13/17 5. Juventus
One of the most battle-hardened sides in the competition have experience of going deep and with the ultimate get-out-of-jail free card in hand in Cristiano Ronaldo look capable of finally getting over that final hurdle. First though Atletico await and no easy test
AFP/Getty Images
14/17 4. Liverpool
The Reds could hardly be in better form after a sensational season in the Premier League and after going all the way to the final a year ago this competition doesn’t hold any fear either. Two legs against Bayern should prove a stern test of their credentials
AFP/Getty Images
15/17 3. Real Madrid
Winners of the last three and of four of the last five Real can hardly be discounted from doing it again this time around. The poor league form of the early part of the year appears to be behind them too and add in a favourable draw against Ajax and another deep run looks on the cards
AFP/Getty Images
16/17 2. Manchester City
With this the one trophy left off City’s checklist this tournament is sure to be high on Pep Guardiola’s list of priorities. Last year and the two-leg defeat to Liverpool still stings and you can be sure City will have designs on going all the way this time around
Getty Images
17/17 1. Barcelona
Barca haven’t won this competition for four years and for a team with the greatest player of all time in their ranks that’s almost unthinkable. Lionel Messi will be desperate to add at least one more big-eared trophy to his collection before it’s all said and done and can be hopeful of getting it this year with a more balanced squad around him and a decent-looking last-16 draw to boot
AFP/Getty Images
1/17 Ranking the last 16 of the Champions League
Who is most likely to win the tournament as we reach the knockout stages? Let’s take a look
AFP/Getty Images
2/17 16. Schalke
Despite steering clear of a shock relegation battle in the Bundesliga, it would still be a surprise if Domenico Tedesco’s side are still in the tie heading back to the Etihad for the second leg
EPA
3/17 15. Ajax
Blessed with some absurd talents such as Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt, Ajax’s slick football, which unsettled Bayern in both group matches, could threaten to end Real’s dynasty prematurely
AFP/Getty Images
4/17 14. Lyon
Impressively rattled City during the group stages and beat PSG in Ligue 1, meaning Bruno Genesio’s side should not be underestimated by Barcelona, who have not won away in the knockout stages since 2015/16
AP
5/17 13. Porto
The Portuguese side took advantage of a weak group to go unbeaten and received more good fortune to draw an inconsistent Roma here, meaning they could sneak into the quarter-finals
EPA
6/17 12. Roma
Last year’s surprise team are gradually rediscovering themselves after a mixed season, with the emergence of wonderkid Nicolo Zaniolo perhaps sparking them into life at just the right time
AFP/Getty Images
7/17 11. Tottenham
Undone by Juve’s wiliness last season, injuries have come at just the wrong time for Spurs, though an resurgent Dortmund lack experience, which could give Mauricio Pochettino’s side a chance
AFP/Getty Images
8/17 10. Borussia Dortmund
A fearless side with mercurial talent all over the pitch, namely Jadon Sancho, Lucien Favre has constructed a dangerous side who could go far given their formidable home advantage
AFP/Getty Images
9/17 9. Manchester United
Revitalised under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and with world class talent Paul Pogba facing an attractive match-up against PSG, United appear well placed to pull off the upset
Man Utd via Getty Images
10/17 8. Bayern Munich
The German champions aren’t what they once were and with doubts lingering over manager Nico Kovac allied with up and down form back in the Bundesliga, Liverpool will fancy their chances of knocking them out in the last-16
AFP/Getty Images
11/17 7. Atletico Madrid
Another former league champion who aren’t quite at that level right now Atletico head into the knockout phase off the back of back-to-back La Liga defeats. Diego Simeone’s men will always come prepared but Juve present a stiff test of that famed resolve
EPA
12/17 6. Paris Saint-Germain
The French champions have their eyes firmly trained on this competition but head into the last-16 with injuries to a number of key players with Neymar the headline absentee. Add in Manchester United’s resurgence and their chances of progression look in the balance
AFP/Getty Images
13/17 5. Juventus
One of the most battle-hardened sides in the competition have experience of going deep and with the ultimate get-out-of-jail free card in hand in Cristiano Ronaldo look capable of finally getting over that final hurdle. First though Atletico await and no easy test
AFP/Getty Images
14/17 4. Liverpool
The Reds could hardly be in better form after a sensational season in the Premier League and after going all the way to the final a year ago this competition doesn’t hold any fear either. Two legs against Bayern should prove a stern test of their credentials
AFP/Getty Images
15/17 3. Real Madrid
Winners of the last three and of four of the last five Real can hardly be discounted from doing it again this time around. The poor league form of the early part of the year appears to be behind them too and add in a favourable draw against Ajax and another deep run looks on the cards
AFP/Getty Images
16/17 2. Manchester City
With this the one trophy left off City’s checklist this tournament is sure to be high on Pep Guardiola’s list of priorities. Last year and the two-leg defeat to Liverpool still stings and you can be sure City will have designs on going all the way this time around
Getty Images
17/17 1. Barcelona
Barca haven’t won this competition for four years and for a team with the greatest player of all time in their ranks that’s almost unthinkable. Lionel Messi will be desperate to add at least one more big-eared trophy to his collection before it’s all said and done and can be hopeful of getting it this year with a more balanced squad around him and a decent-looking last-16 draw to boot
AFP/Getty Images
While the Tottenham Hotspur manager could cost up to £50m and then maybe require time to get a team together in the manner he likes, United have been impressed with how Solskjaer has adapted to what he has straight away, to the point where the latter is now almost being weighed up as a lower-risk situation.
Mike Phelan is seen as hugely important in that adjustment. He has “brought back the United way” at their Carrington base, but – crucially – that has allowed Solskjaer to be more focused on match preparation rather than training, and he is said to be exceptional at delegation.
That is something else that has drawn comparisons with Sir Alex Ferguson, who is another influential figure backing the Norwegian.
Solskjaer held discussions with officials in the last week, and The Independent has been told that talks have reached the point where potential summer transfer targets have been discussed, while he has also been looking at possible houses in the area.
United would prioritise a centre-half and right-back in the summer, while looking to move around four fringe players on to free up the squad.
While United do have a crunch period coming up – including Tuesday’s Champions League first leg against Paris Saint-Germain – Solskjaer has so generally impressed that these fixtures are no longer seen as gamechangers as to whether he gets the job.
Keep up to date with all the latest news with expert comment and analysis from our award-winning writers
