Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Provides Update on Nemanja Matic Future & Potential Role for Tim Fosu-Mensah

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Nemanja Matic will not leave the club in January, as Manchester United's manager deals with injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay.


Pogba's ankle problem will keep him sidelined for a month, while McTominay is expected to be out for two with knee ligament damage.


Solskjaer has since confirmed that Matic will remain at the club, despite earlier rumours to the contrary, and also hinted that to remedy the problems in the centre of the park, Timothy Fosu-Mensah could be drafted back in.

On Matic's future, via the ​Mirror, Solskjaer said of Matic - whose deal expires at the end of the season: “Nemanja will stay. He's been working hard to get back in and now he's here and he's playing well."


“There's always a chance, of course there is," the Norwegian said of Matic possibly staying beyond the end of the campaign. The Serbian was expected to depart in January with the likes of Inter interested, though United do hold an option to automatically extend his deal by 12 months. He refused to rule out the triggering of the extension, or a new deal altogether.

 "It's what you do on the pitch that is the decisive factor there," he added. “If someone drops out you have to be ready and take your opportunity and I think he's done okay."

Matic made his first Premier League start in almost three months as United defeated Burnley in their final game of 2019, though was also present for the defeat to Arsenal.

Solskjaer went on to suggest that Fosu-Mensah - who has spent time out on loan at the likes of Fulham and Crystal Palace - could also help solve the problem in central midfield. It's an area he's played before, though he has more often featured at right back, and it would be the player's first Red Devils appearance since 2017 were he to return. 

Timothy Fosu-Mensah

Solskjaer added: "We will have to find different positions for someone. Tim, when he comes back, is capable of playing there. Andreas (Pereira) has played a couple of games in there, so he’s not let us down in there. He's an option."

A ruptured cruciate ligament meant an April return from Craven Cottage, but Fosu-Mensah is now nearing full fitness and a first-team return.

Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes has been linked to ​United in recent weeks, although West Ham are reportedly in talks with the 20-year-old - meaning that Solskjaer may choose to work with what he has until the summer window.


Source : 90min