Man Utd board SPLIT on Antonio Conte appointment after crisis talks over under-pressure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future

MANCHESTER UNITED chiefs are divided as to whether to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Antonio Conte, or appoint a different candidate.

Solskjaer is under serious pressure at Old Trafford following the 5-0 annihilation at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday.

PA

Solskjaer is under serious pressure at Old Trafford after a poor run of results[/caption]

AFP

But some senior figures at the club aren’t convinced Conte is the right man to replace him[/caption]

After crisis talks at the club, the Norwegian WILL be in the dugout for Saturday’s trip to Tottenham.

But another chastening defeat could change that, although the board are undecided on who they want to replace former player Solskjaer.

Italian Conte is the bookies favourite to take the job and has the backing of some United chiefs.

But it’s uncertain whether the 52-year-old would represent the famous ‘United way’ were he to take over – and that is causing a divide in the club’s hierarchy.

Conte has a reputation for a well-organised and disciplined style of play – rather than the fluid, attacking football Manchester United fans are accustomed to.

United club legend Peter Schmeichel sees the former Chelsea boss as a short-term fix, with Conte never staying at a club for longer than three years.

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It means other senior members at United would rather appoint Mauricio Pochettino as the next man in charge.

The PSG boss is Manchester United’s ‘top choice’ to succeed Solskjaer, according to some reports.

However a move for the Argentine may be unlikely given he only took over in Paris ten months ago.

And SunSport exclusively revealed that the club had drawn up a four-man shortlist to replace the current United boss.

That list does not include former Spurs boss Pochettino.

A leading agent has been instructed to contact some of the biggest names in the game, including Zinedine Zidane, Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag and Brendan Rodgers – as well as Conte.

Chiefs at the club don’t want to relieve Solskjaer of his duties, but may face no choice with games against Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City as their next three fixtures.

And SunSport can also exclusively report that the Norwegian is losing the faith of his dressing room.

Players have been left uninspired by the training sessions run by Solskjaer and his coaching staff, meaning the writing could be on the wall for the United boss.

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