Manchester United could be facing huge payouts for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's backroom staff, if a new manager decides to get rid of them for his own.
Solskjaer's sacking on Sunday was the fourth time United have let a manager go part way through their new contract since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
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A report claims that those sackings have cost United £38 million in compensation, with the latest payout no doubt increased by the fact the now former manager signed a new contract in the summer.
It seems like that wasn't the only new contract signed at Old Trafford and, should a new manager decide to get rid of Solskjaer's staff, that could cost the Premier League side millions.
According to the Daily Mail, Mike Phelan signed a new contract last month and the assistant manager wasn't the only one to increase his deal.
New caretaker boss Michael Carrick, first-team coach Kieran McKenna and goalkeeper coach Richard Hartis also signed new contracts, meaning compensation could be in the millions once a new manager is appointed.
The report claims that the deals were agreed in the summer, when Solskjaer signed on for three more years, following United's second place finish in last season's Champions League.
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However the deals were only finalised last month, after the finer details were ironed out, and the team's form since then has nosedived to the point the manager had to be sacked.
Home shallackings by rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, as well as away embarrassments at the hands of Leicester City and Watford, left United with little choice.
Carrick is now in charge of the team on a caretaker basis, with his first game in charge on Tuesday evening against Villarreal in the Champions League.
The game is must win, with the two teams locked on seven points and Atalanta just two points behind them with two games of the group left.
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After that, Carrick is expected to be in charge against league leaders Chelsea on the weekend, with the club hopeful of getting in an interim manager to take them to the end of the season, with Steve Bruce amongst those interested.
United's long term target is reported to be former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino, who they've strongly been linked with in the past.
Poch is currently at PSG, where he took over from Thomas Tuchel at the beginning of the year, and there has been reports he'd be willing to leave Paris now rather than wait for next May.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Premier League, Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick