Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Mike Phelan to be Manchester United's new technical director, according to a report.
The Norwegian's former United teammate Rio Ferdinand has been linked with the role, How Rio Ferdinand impressed Ed Woodward during Man Utd talks , but The Times claim that the United boss wants his current assistant to take up the job.
Following an impressive interim spell, Solskjaer took up the Old Trafford role on a permanent basis in March, but Phelan's position for next season is still to be defined.
As it stands, he is still on the same interim deal he signed when he rejoined the club alongside Solskjaer following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December.
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The experience of Phelan - who was one of Sir Alex Ferguson's trusted lieutenants - has been seen as crucial during Solskjaer's time in charge, which started brightly but has now stuttered, with United winning just two of their last 10 games in all competitions.
Phelan left his role as sporting director of Australian club Central Coast Mariners in order to answer the SOS from United, and the report added that he would like a senior, broader role within the club now it has been decided that Solskjaer is staying on.
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United have never had a technical director, and it is thought that their desire to appoint one was one of the key reasons behind Mourinho's increasing unhappiness towards the end of his time at the club.
