Paper Talk: Solskjaer gets conditional Man Utd job promise; West Ham miss

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been told the Man Utd job is his – on one condition, while details of a January transfer miss at West Ham have been revealed – all in Saturday’s papers.

 

BEAT PSG AND MAN UTD JOB IS YOURS

Manchester United are reported to have informed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the full-time job is his – if he manages to beat PSG in the Champions League.

United face the big-spending Ligue 1 giants in a two-legged affair – the first leg of which is on February 12 – and hopes of an upset have already been lifted by the news that star man Neymar will miss both games.

Six weeks ago when the draw was made, United were given little hope of beating PSG, but that looks a more realistic proposition after interim boss Solskjaer guided the club to eight wins and a draw in his nine matches in charge.

And with hopes very much alive that United can finish in the top four again, The Sun claims Ed Woodward and the board are willing to tell the Norwegian that the job is his for the long term if PSG are beaten and United reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

And the majority of the Red Devils squad and members of the backroom staff believe Solskjaer will land the job on a full-time basis if they get past PSG in February.

An Old Trafford source is quoted as telling The Sun: “Woodward spent around half an hour with Ole at Carrington in the middle of last week.

“He was passing on his thanks from the board and seeing if he needed anything.

“There was a little appraisal of the squad and mood.

“There was no assurances of a permanent offer as of yet.

“Woodward is fully in Ole’s corner but the Glazers have the final say.

“He pushed for Jose, so has some making up to do. The consensus around the training ground is Ole will get the job though with a positive result against PSG.”

Such has been the transformation at United that one of the unhappiest players under Jose Mourinho, winger Anthony Martial, has now signed a new deal.

 

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AND THE REST

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Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is willing to discuss a new contract following the Miguel Almiron transfer and Antonio Barreca loan (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool fear Joe Gomez may need surgery as his fractured leg refuses to heal (Daily Mirror)

Harry Kane is closing in on a swift Tottenham return thanks to rehab in the Bahamas (Daily Mirror)

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Bayern Munich will revive their pursuit of Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi in the summer (The Sun)

West Ham fear Jack Wilshere’s season could be over as he struggles to overcome a persistent ankle problem (Daily Mail)

Tottenham are finally set to confirm the opening date for their new £1bn stadium next week (Daily Mail)

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has hailed Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola as the best manager in the world (Daily Mail)

Newcastle are set to confirm the departure of former U23 coach Peter Beardsley following allegations of racism and bullying (Daily Mail)

Barcelona’s stand-in goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has been ruled out for six weeks with a torn calf muscle (Daily Mail)

Inter Milan boss Luciano Spalletti believes Arsenal “conned” winger Ivan Perisic over a proposed move in the January transfer window (The Independent)

Aston Villa signing Tom Carroll signed from Swansea on Deadline Day because of the advice of team-mate Tammy Abraham (Daily Express)

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will not sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge after being denied a January move to Bayern Munich (The Times)

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins vetoed the club’s decision to sell winger Daniel James at 10pm on Deadline Day after discovering the terms of Leeds’ payment structure (The Times)

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is facing up to six weeks out with a fractured leg with the club fearing he will require surgery (The Times)

The FA has begun holding weekly meetings with the Premier League in an attempt to reach a post-Brexit immigration agreement it can present to the government (The Times)

Birmingham’s decision to reject several bids for striker Che Adams could lead to a second charge of committing an “aggravated breach” of the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules (The Times)

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The player agents who helped arrange Emiliano Sala’s flight over the English Channel have been battling a winding-up order from HMRC (Daily Telegraph)