Premier League Betting: Solskjaer 14/1 to lead Manchester United to a top four finish
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has been confirmed as the man to replace Jose Mourinho at Manchester United - for now at least.
The Red Devils have appointed the Norweigan for the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign. Molde have announced that they'll be "lending" the 45-year-old to the club where he spent over a decade as a player, scoring 91 goals.
Solskjaer's first game in charge comes against his former club Cardiff City this weekend. Having won just nine of his 30 matches as Bluebirds boss, bet365 go 11/20 (1.55) that the new United manager starts his time in charge with a victory in south Wales on Saturday.
In the longer term, it's 14/1 (15.0) that United finish the domestic campaign inside the top four. That’s something that was looking less and less likely with each passing week under Mourinho culminating in a 3-1 reverse at the hands of Liverpool. The side who currently sit 11 points behind the Champions League spots are 1/33 (1.03) to miss out which shows just how poorly they've done this term.
Even the most optimistic fan would struggle to find justification for backing the 750/1 (751.0) at bet365 about United winning the title but they're 1/4 (1.25) to finish in the top six so things aren't expected to get much worse than they have been thus far.
Those who believe Solskjaer will struggle to bring any about any improvement could be tempted by the 25/1 (26.0) on the Red Devils finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Only three points separate United in sixth and Bournemouth who occupy 11th spot so any failure to turn around their ailing form could see the club slip further down the standings relatively quickly.
A Champions League last 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain awaits in February and it's 10/3 (4.33) that the English side qualify for the quarter finals. Outright, United are relative outsiders for the competition at 50/1 (51.0) with bet365.
Having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Derby County earlier this season, United are 9/1 (10.0) to win the FA Cup.
That represents the most attainable silverware available to the interim boss and a third round clash with Reading should be a straightforward task if Solskjaer can galvanise his new side after a torrid few months.
