George Aluo
Former Juventus of Italy manager, Massimiliano Allegri has joined the league of coaches warming up to step in as coach of troubled English Premier League side, Manchester United, if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is shown the exit door.
Reports coming out of London indicate that the Italian tactician has started taking lessons in English for the move which could be as early as January.
Allegri guided Juventus to five consecutive Serie A titles but left the Italian champions at the end of last season.
The 52-year-old also led Juve to two Champions League finals, although his side were beaten on both occasions.
According to The Guardian, Allegri has ‘identified’ United as a potential destination and the Italian would be part of their shortlist if they (Man United) opt to part company with Solskjaer.
The report was however quick to add that United currently have no intention of sacking Solskjaer, who signed a three-year contract to become the club’s permanent manager in March.
It’s also understood that Allegri would still be open to joining United even if they failed to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
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It would be noted that United have suffered their worst start to the season in 30 years following their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last Monday.
Former Liverpool chief Brendan Rodgers has also been linked with the United job.
The Northern Irishman has been an instant success since his arrival in Leicester in February, guiding the high-flying Foxes to third on the Premier League table this term.
Arsenal icon Paul Merson admitted Rodgers would be the perfect candidate for the United job, while former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy claimed the King Power coach would be doing a better job than Solskjaer if he were at the helm.
One other coach on the card is Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine tactician has cut a lonely figure in North London and has already registered his interest in jumping ships.
Though nothing suggests at the moment that United would sack Solskjaer, it is believed that the club’s chairman Ed Woodward is growing more frustrated by the week, a factor that makes a potential sacking not completely off the cards.
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Meanwhile, Robin van Persie has berated Paul Pogba warning that the French World Cup winner must speed up his distribution or Manchester United’s attacking players will stop making runs in front of him.
The Dutchman’s criticism came in the wake of United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford in a game Pogba struggled to make any impact.
Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel also slammed Pogba’s performance and described the French World Cup winner as a ‘problem child’ for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Van Persie believes Solskjaer needs to clarify Pogba’s role in the team and has urged the midfielder to find a ‘connection’ with United’s forwards.
Manchester United are however forging ahead with plans on how to solve their biggest problem which is the attack. This informs why they have resolved to reignite their interest in Tottenham star Christian Eriksen when the January transfer window opens.
The Red Devils failed with a bid for the Dane in the final week of last summer’s window but the club believe they stand a better chance of landing Eriksen come the new year. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a long-term admirer of the 27-year-old and wants to add more creativity to his squad, as well as a clinical finisher, in the next window.
Solskjaer spent close to £150m on Daniel James, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka last summer but recouped nearly half of that outlay through the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan.
The Norwegian will be handed significant funds over the next 18 months to reinvest in the squad. There is an acknowledgement from within the club that Solskjaer has made long-term decisions in getting rid of the likes of Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini, meaning there may be some pain in the short-term.