Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is ready to accept the Manchester United job, if and when, they approach him to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, UK media 90 min has reported.
United’s top hierarchy had been determined to stand by club legend Solskjaer for the rest of this season, but their patience has crumbled in recent weeks and now moves are being made in the background in order to replace the manager.
90min has reported that United started working on a succession plan following their home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City – and this succession plan includes looking at when Solskjaer may leave, and who would replace him.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has endured a tough season at Old Trafford and the club is monitoring Brendan Rodgers as his replacement. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |
In recent weeks, since the poor run of form started for United, there have been plenty of managers linked with the Man Utd job.
Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and current Paris Saint Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino both have fans at Old Trafford, but reports have emerged that the man with the most support is Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers was linked earlier this year, but some at United were put off by the links to their bitter rivals Liverpool – however the fact that Rodgers never won the title at Anfield is said to make his appointment possible and palatable.
Rodgers himself once admitted that he did not think he could ever manage United due to his spell at Anfield, but intermediaries have concluded that this is now not the case.
Until recently Rodgers was not convinced that United’s interest was anything other than rumors, but third parties in recent weeks have convinced him that their interest is genuine and he has responded in a very positive manner.
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers will accept Manchester United’s job offer should the club approach him to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
Rodgers is aware of the possible reprisal from both Liverpool and United fans, but reports have stated that he has decided that he could not turn down an approach from the Red Devils – if and when it arrives.
Leicester City on their side would not welcome any approach from United, or any suitor for Rodgers for that matter, as they look to qualify for the Champions League and establish themselves as a top-six side in the English Premier League. However, they also know it would be very difficult to keep him at the club if he wanted to move on. Rodgers spurned advances from Tottenham in the summer, but United is a different proposition.
While Rodgers is the front-runner to take over at Man Utd, the next big question for the club’s hierarchy is when he should take over from embattled Solskjaer.
There are differing opinions within the club on this. While some still maintain that Solskjaer should be given more time – possibly until the end of the season – others think he should be removed as soon as possible to salvage United’s season early enough.
Manchester United travel to Watford this Saturday after a two-week international break. Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City meanwhile hosts early leaders Chelsea on the same day in what will be an early kickoff.
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