Manchester United are planning for Champions League football next season, according to caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who also revealed he has given his verdict on which players the club should keep beyond this season.
The club has already sold one player since Solskjaer came in to replace José Mourinho, with Marouane Fellaini headed to China. Decisions were made to extend the contracts of Anthony Martial, Ashley Young and Phil Jones.
NEXT: Antonio Valencia sends message to fans casting more doubt over Man Utd future
Two of those calls really stand out, though. Mourinho urged United to give Fellaini a new contract in the summer and he also considered selling Martial, as reported by the Guardian in the summer.
We are now expecting updates on David de Gea, Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata, who are all in talks with United over new deals.
Meanwhile, Antonio Valencia looks set to leave Old Trafford after 10-years.
So, it’s pretty clear Solskjaer is having an input of some sort. He has his views on what direction the club should take going forward, especially when it comes to matters on the pitch, and this is yet another indication that he will be United manager beyond this season.
Asked by a reporter if he had told executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward which players he feels should stay or go, Solskjaer said: “Yes, I have. We’ve been discussing the future of the club – we did that before the talk of ‘if I should stay or not’”, as quoted by Sky Sports.
“My contract is up in the summer but as I’ve always done for United I give my best because you have to plan, even if I’m not here I still give my view on who I would like to see here as a supporter.
“I’d like to stay, of course, but that is not decided until the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Mark Ogden of ESPN claims Solskjaer is “the only serious candidate” for the position.
Everything points towards him getting the job. What a story!
