Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is high up the list of potential replacements for the Manchester United job, with the 52-year-old having already enjoyed a successful playing career with the club. Solskjaer was the United boss between 2018-2021 and was hired on the back of a successful interim period in charge - which may be a pattern we see repeated again. 

Solskjaer is popular with the fans, and also has a reputation in the dressing room, which he used to his advantage last time around. Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire, in particular, have spoken in glowing terms about Solskjaer’s time at the club, potentially leading to United opting for the Norwegian boss, with player power being a long term issue at Manchester United.

This appointment would also appease the very loud voices in the United ex-player community who like Solskjaer. We know that this noise affects the United hierarchy from Ruben Amorim’s parting comments in his final press conference. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment would bring a temporary good feeling back to the club - and a bright run of form like Solskjaer managed in his previous tenure may be enough to appease United fans and players until the end of the season.

Oliver Glasner is the market leader to replace Ruben Amorim as Manchester United head coach, and has been linked with the club before. Glasner has long been irritated by the lack of support he gets from the boardroom at Palace, which has contributed to Palace’s recent poor form - potentially tempting the Austrian to join the Red Devils.

There are tactical similarities as well, with Glasner also playing a 3-4-3 at Palace that United, a system that United have recruited for, though Glasner is also open to being tactically flexible, which is something that will appeal to the United board after having a manager that was very stubborn about his tactical approach.

Glasner is in the final six months of his contract at Crystal Palace, and isn’t expected to sign an extension, meaning that he will be available for United to get for free in the summer. It’s unclear as to whether Glasner would even entertain a mid-season appointment, having seen the struggles that Amorim had when he joined from Sporting midway through last season.

Glasner has experience in the Premier League, and has won major trophies with both Crystal Palace and Frankfurt. He has previously hinted at wanting to take the next step in his managerial career, and ticks a lot of boxes for what United are looking for from their next head coach.

Darren Fletcher has been appointed as interim manager following the departure of Ruben Amorim. Fletcher has coached in the youth ranks and held roles with the senior squad at Manchester United for the last few years and has had success in those roles - potentially priming him for a shot at the big job.

Manchester United have gone down this avenue before with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was appointed as permanent head coach following a bright spell as caretaker. Darren Fletcher starts with a trip to Turf Moor, before an FA Cup tie against Brighton at Old Trafford - these aren’t the most taxing fixtures and could allow Fletcher to build some momentum with the side.

Fletcher spent more than 20 years at Manchester United, making 340 appearances for the first team. He has a very strong connection to the club through his playing career and may be the perfect candidate to smooth things over with the fanbase - who did rally behind Solskjaer during his short spell at the club.

Darren Fletcher would be a popular appointment with the fans, and former players of Manchester United who definitely impact the club with their comments as pundits. What would remain unclear with this appointment is the long term vision of the club, as it feels like a stopgap appointment just like the Solskjaer one did. 

If Manchester United did want a manager in this mould, Kieran McKenna may be a better option. McKenna was linked to the club before they went for Amorim, and crucially has more managerial experience than Fletcher, as well as previously holding a coaching position with the first team.

One of the biggest issues at Manchester United for a long time has been the toxic culture of the club. Managers aren’t able to last long as they are often roped into battles about player power or recruitment disagreements - both factors that Amorim had to overcome regularly during his reign. 

Gareth Southgate would be an excellent option to steady the ship and rekindle a good environment for the players. Tactically, he isn’t to the level of some of the other managers in the frame, but an argument could be made that United need more than just a reset on the pitch - the culture of the club has been rotten for years and getting someone like Southgate in could really help that, especially after the work Southgate did with the England squad.

Both Jason Wilcox and Jim Ratcliffe are believed to hold Southgate to a very high standard, which is why his name has repeatedly come up when the United job has been discussed in the last few years. However, given the failure of recent managerial appointments, it may be deemed that going for Southgate is just too big a risk as he may not be able to get the on-pitch results United are looking for - though he would certainly change the culture at the club.

Enzo Maresca is one of the best available options on the market for Manchester United, having recently been dismissed from his role at Chelsea. Enzo Maresca has Premier League experience, has won major trophies and is seen by clubs, such as Manchester City and Juventus, as a top manager.

These factors should influence United to at least ask the question to the former Chelsea boss, who is used to dealing with a turbulent hierarchy above him. Maresca has reportedly already held conversations with the likes of Juventus and Manchester City, though those jobs are currently occupied, and it’s not clear if either will be available at the end of the season.

I’d expect conversations to happen between Maresca and the United hierarchy, though a stumbling block may be the Spaniard's desire to be involved in other aspects of the club, which was the same issue that Amorim had about his role. 

Enzo Maresca is the best option available for Manchester United at the moment, but his links with Manchester City and Juventus, as well as his desire to be involved in recruitment and other areas of the club, could lead to the two parties failing to come to an agreement.