Ole lands new two-year deal

MANCHESTER UNITED are set to reward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a new contract this summer.

Sportsmail understands United will begin talks over a deal of at least two years with the Norwegian at the end of the season.

Solskjaer is expected to be given an increase to his £7million-a-year salary, which expires next year, and the move underlines the board’s commitment to their manager.

United, second in the Premier League table behind Manchester City, are pleased with the team’s progress.

Managing director Richard Arnold praised the job Solskjaer has done, saying last week: ‘No one in the world is happier than me with the phenomenal success he is bringing.

‘When you’re inside the club and you are seeing the work of the man and the character, it just makes you so happy. He deserves to succeed, and he is.’

Since his appointment in December 2018, Solskjaer has failed to win a trophy and United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Leicester City before the international break.

They are favourites to win the Europa

League and face Spanish outfit Granada in the away first leg of their quarter-final on April 8. Finalising a new contract for the 48-year-old over the summer months would remove any lingering uncertainty regarding his future at Old Trafford. There is hope that

Solskjaer can narrow the gap to City next season and see United challenge for a first league crown since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. Solskjaer wants to bring in fresh faces, although the club are reluctant to enter a bidding war for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. United restructured their recruitment department earlier this month, with John Murtough promoted to football director and former United midfielder Darren Fletcher appointed as technical director. Solskjaer was assured he would remain as manager rather than head coach, a key difference when it comes to discussing transfer targets.