Report: Manchester United seriously considering firing Solskjaer

A number of Manchester United officials are pushing the club to fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the aftermath of Saturday's 4-1 capitulation to Watford, according to The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano.

Internal talks between club executives are reportedly ongoing; compensation costs for the manager were the focus of a meeting on Saturday night, sources told Rob Dawson of ESPN.

It is not guaranteed that Solskjaer will be on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League match against Villarreal, Dawson added.

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers and Zinedine Zidane have been touted as potential replacements for the Norwegian.

Club officials reportedly assured Solskjaer of his job before the international break and signaled their intention to keep the 48-year-old on board until at least the end of the season.

But Saturday's loss to Watford - United's fifth defeat in seven Premier League matches - may have forced their hand.

"I feel for the fans, and I feel the same as them. We're embarrassed by losing the way we do," Solskjaer, who signed a three-year contract extension in July, told Sky Sports. "We know we are in a very bad run and a bad situation, but that's football, and I know they'll support whoever is on the pitch every day, and sometimes you've got to say sorry."

The Red Devils have struggled to recover since losing 5-0 at home to Liverpool on Oct. 24. Solskjaer called it his "darkest day" as manager and "miles worse" than last season's 6-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, but United then suffered a comprehensive 2-0 loss to rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in a caretaker capacity in December 2018 and earned the job on a permanent basis after winning 14 of his first 19 matches in charge.

He's been under heavy pressure ever since. United have committed more than £400 million in transfer fees over the last three seasons, and while their league position improved each year, they have fallen short of silverware thus far.

The return of Cristiano Ronaldo, along with the signings of Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, renewed hope that United would challenge for titles after going three years without a trophy. The club captured its last major title in 2017 when it beat Ajax to win the Europa League.

Ronaldo has done his best to paper over the cracks, scoring nine goals in 13 appearances. But Varane has struggled to stay fit, and Sancho has yet to score in any competition this season.

"It's everyone's fault. It's not the coach; it's not one player or two. It's everyone," midfielder Bruno Fernandes told beIN Sports. "Everyone has to take the responsibility because everyone has to do better."

United now sit seventh in the Premier League, six points behind fourth-placed West Ham United and 12 back of leaders Chelsea.