Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 3-1 to be permanent boss after return to Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been appointed as Manchester United's caretaker manager until the end of the season and he can be backed at 3-1 with Hills to continue in the role for the start of next term.

United have been clear in stating that Solskjaer's return to the club is only on a temporary basis as they conduct a "thorough recruitment process", although some bookmakers still rate the Red Devils cult hero favourite to get the the gig permanently, presumably on the basis that there will be a clamour to see the Norwegian remain should this short-term role be a success.

Solskjaer has twice managed Molde and was part of the United reserve team but his only previous stint at senior level in British football came during a terrible campaign with Cardiff in 2014 and his first game since arriving at Old Trafford is away to the Bluebirds on Saturday.

Sixth-placed United are 8-13 with Betway to win in Wales and Solskjaer walks into a potentially favourable run of fixtures with matches against Cardiff (away), Huddersfield (home) and Bournemouth (home) to come before 2019.

Betfred offer 2-1 that United claim maximum points from those clashes and 9-2 that they win the next four games, with a trip to Newcastle the first date in the January diary.

It's 5-1 with Betfred that OGS does not even last the full season at Old Trafford. Coral offer 13-2 about United winning a trophy this term with the FA Cup their most likely chance as Paris St-Germain are waiting in the Champions League last 16.

Solskjaer, who will be joined by Mike Phelan as first-team coach, told the club's official website: "Manchester United is in my heart and it’s brilliant to be coming back in this role. I’m really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club."

BoyleSports have paid out on Solskjaer being United's next manager and will also honour bets placed to any further winners should a new coach be in place for the beginning of the 2019-20 season.

Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino is favourite in places to be at Old Trafford for the start of next season but Betway are laying 3-1 and Hills offer 6-1 about Zinedine Zidane replacing Jose Mourinho on a permanent basis.

Speaking on his Coral blog former England captain Alan Shearer is not certain will be so keen to jump ship to Manchester.

He said: "When you look at how he plays, what he has done at Tottenham and the fact he gives youth a chance, you can see why Pochettino is one of the favourites.

"When you look at what he has built so far at Tottenham though, his big players signing new contracts, a state of the art training ground and a new stadium to move into, would he move to Manchester United? I am not convinced he would leave all that behind."

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