Manchester United 's board are reportedly using the time between Sunday's drubbing at home to Liverpool and next weekend's trip to Tottenham to draw up succession plans if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sacked.
Pressure is mounting on the Norwegian after he oversaw one of the worst defeats in United's recent history - a 5-0 home loss to fierce rivals Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp' s side brushed United aside in rampant fashion - becoming the first team in Premier League history to boast a 4-0 lead in the first 45 minutes at Old Trafford.
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As a result, some have claimed Solskjaer's position has become untenable, though the United hierarchy are rumoured to be sticking with the former striker - for now.
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A plethora of reports emerged last night indicating some members of the United board have come to the end of their tether with Solskjaer - but a report from ESPN claims the Norwegian will definitely take charge of the Red Devils' next game.
It is believed that while the obvious best case scenario is United win their next three fixtures (against Spurs, Atalanta and Manchester City respectively), should Solskjaer fail, there are replacement plans being put in place.
Though many called for the manager's head immediately after the full-time whistle on Sunday, United feel that the time afforded to them by keeping him for another week presents them with the chance to look for a worthwhile successor.
One name that has been touted with a switch to Man Utd is Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is rumoured to be well-thought of by United chiefs.
Unfortunately for those over at Old Trafford, Pochettino penned a one-year contract extension with the French giants as recently as July.
In turn, Pochettino could be difficult to pry away from the French capital, with PSG's owners keen on keeping him tied to the Parc des Princes for the foreseeable future.
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The former Tottenham Hotspur boss was linked with a return to north London earlier this year in the wake of Jose Mourinho's sacking as Spurs boss.
However, a deal failed to materialise and Pochettino stayed put - though he still owns property in England which will undoubtedly only add further fuel to the speculation over a return to the Premier League.
Solskjaer, meanwhile, remains adamant he is the right man to take United forward.
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Speaking after the Liverpool humbling, Solskjaer said: "I've come too far, we've come too far as a group to give up now.
"I do believe in myself and I am getting close to what we want at the club. The results lately haven’t been good enough. Hands up.
"Next week is Tottenham away. Then Atalanta. Then Man City. We have to go into this with the right frame of mind."
