Manchester United chiefs are testing the managerial market in Italy as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team battle for a top four finish.

With United sitting in eighth position, six points behind fourth placed Chelsea, there is pressure on Solskjaer to secure Champions League qualification.

And Tribalfootball.com has been informed United's directors aren't sitting on their hands and instead are sounding out potential replacements for the Norwegian.

One Italian intermediary, who handles several high-profile coaches, has told us United representatives have been in touch with more than one Italian coach in recent weeks to sound them out about moving to England.

While no names have been identified, Massimiliano Allegri, the former Juventus coach, is understood to have resisted interest from LaLiga and Serie A to leave himself clear for England - and particularly the United job.

Meanwhile, sources at Carrington have told Tribalfootball.com that it is business as usual.

Indeed, on the ground in Manchester, there remains a confidence the board, including vice-chairman Ed Woodward, are fully behind Solskjaer - though there remains the expectation that his team will produce Champions League football next season.