Reports of talks between Man United and Ernesto Valverde

Manchester United need a new coach after parting ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the Premier League giants have made contact with former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde.

Michael Carrick has taken the role as caretaker manager and oversaw United's 2-0 win at Villarreal on Tuesday that allowed them to confirm their place in the Champions League's knockout rounds. But, the search for a coach to take over until the end of the season continues.

According to the BBC and the Guardian, Valverde has been contacted by the club. Both outlets have reported that Valverde would come in to see things through until the end of the season, as an interim coach, with a full-time boss then being sought for arrival in the summer of 2022.

United's first-choice target is Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, though he has recently stated his happiness and commitment to the job he has on his hands at the Parc des Princes, so it's unlikely that he will be able to leave the club mid-season.

There have, though, been reports that Pochettino could be allowed to leave for Old Trafford with Zinedine Zidane coming in to replace him in Paris.

Valverde's status

Ernesto Valverde has been without a job since leaving Barcelona on January 11, 2020. Then, he had the Catalans top of the LaLiga Santander table, but they would go on to lose that lead as Real Madrid ended the season - which was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic - as champions.

"It's possible," Valverde recently said about a return to coaching.

"It would have to be something different, something stimulating and motivating.

"After leaving Barcelona I needed some time away. I wanted to take the opportunity to travel, but then the pandemic... I'm not sure what I'm going to do."

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