Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has become Besiktas manager and could push to sign Manchester United players to bolster his squad.
Besiktas have confirmed that former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has become the club’s new head coach after agreeing an 18-month deal.
Solskjaer has been out of work since his emotional Old Trafford exit in November 2021, but the Norwegian coach has been linked with many jobs.
Besiktas have been without a manager since sacking Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month.
Once announced as the new Besiktas manager, Solskjaer will be keen to use his network in football to strengthen their squad. He will have a good idea of the landscape in Norwegian football, but it’s his strong connection to United that could give him the biggest boost of all.
Solskjaer has managed Molde in his home country on two separate occasions and also led Cardiff for a brief spell in 2014.
United in Focus looks at four different players that could be targeted by Solskjaer before the January transfer window shuts.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford scored 55 goals in 135 appearances under Solskjaer, so he owes one of his best spells to the Norwegian coach.
The 27-year-old has been subject to transfer interest after making it clear he wants a challenge away from Old Trafford.
Besiktas is an unlikely destination, with Barcelona understood to be Rashford’s preference, but it’s not impossible because Turkey teams tend to offer lucrative wages.
Perhaps a short-term loan to Turkey to work with Solskjaer would appeal to Rashford…
Antony
Antony is another player who could leave United before the January transfer deadline.
The Brazilian has flopped since joining the club from Ajax and Erik ten Hag took lots of criticism for the deal.
However, it remains to be seen if Solskjaer wants to challenge himself with turning Antony’s career around.
A good spell in Turkey could see Antony’s market value rise, although a bad spell could see his value drop even further.
The Turkish Super Lig would suit him better than the unforgiving Premier League.
Christian Eriksen
Although Christian Eriksen is another player that was brough to United by Ten Hag, Solskjaer could look to take advantage of the fact the Reds are trying to move on the 32-year-old midfielder.
A drop from the Premier League to the Turkish Super Lig could suit Eriksen, who rarely features under Ruben Amorim.
Eriksen’s contract expires in the summer which means Besiktas could strike a bargain this month.
Paul Pogba
Former United midfielder Paul Pogba is looking for a new club after Juventus terminated his contract.
The Frenchman enjoyed a good relationship with Solskjaer at United – during both of his spells at the club – even though he failed to reach expectations after his record transfer in 2016.
Solskjaer had seen Pogba develop from the youth team and later managed him in United’s first team.
This would spark a surprise reunion but one Besiktas fans would undoubtedly get on board with.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
