Simon Stone
BBC Sport

The Norwegian is definitely under consideration. A huge crowd favourite from his time as a player and high up on the bookies' lists for a temporary solution. A coach at United and reserve-team boss from May 2008 to December 2010, he is steeped in the club's history.

Solskjaer left to manage former club Molde in Norway, then led Cardiff in the Premier League in 2014 before returning to his homeland.

He could be available short-term given the Norwegian season has just finished - and only restarts in March.

He has just signed a new contract with Molde until 2021 - but could United pay a fee to 'borrow' their Treble-winning icon?

Remember our Paul Pogba tweet chat at 15:11?

We now understand that his tweet was a scheduled marketing tweet - of course it was - and after he arrived at the training ground he had them deleted immediately.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

He will be top of the list. His Tottenham side play attractive football, and he has spent very little in comparison to his Premier League rivals.

Spurs are largely built around players he didn't sign, but Pochettino has a reputation for extracting the maximum out of the squad he has and has been credited with developing several young English players at the core of Gareth Southgate's vibrant, exciting national side.

He's known to have a human touch with players and staff, plus he already works under a chairman - Daniel Levy - who operates almost like a technical director.

Real Madrid were also interested in him last summer and, though they have Santiago Solari in place until 2021, those rumours persist. So could it be a heavyweight clash between Real and United for the services of the highly rated Argentine?

Pochettino only signed a new five-year contract at Spurs last summer and still appears to been on an upward curve at a club set to make a delayed move into a new stadium. If he could be prized out of Levy's clutches, expect any club to pay at least £20m to release him from that deal.

Not rocket science, those bullet points, are they?

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United will appoint a caretaker manager to succeed the sacked Jose Mourinho before their next Premier League game with Cardiff on Saturday.

Former Red Devils striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is one name under consideration to take charge for the rest of the season - as the club look to restructure with a technical director of football and a new permanent boss in the summer.

Who do they want and what do they want?

United's wishlist is for someone who can:

• Get the most out of United's big-money signings and create an identifiable style.
• Develop young players.
• Understand the philosophy, culture and core values of the club including its attacking traditions.
• Create a positive environment with players and staff.
• Work within a new structure, including reporting to a technical director of football.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Unai Emery: "The only thing I can say to you is I was surprised - and it is not good news because, when one coach finishes his work like that, it's not good for other coaches.

"It is not good news but I don't know a lot as to why this decision happened. My focus is tomorrow on the derby (against Tottenham), the focus for me and for every player is just that."

Whoever comes in to steer the United ship will have one eye on a horrible run of fixtures in March but the next few games are kind, on paper at least.

Cardiff (a), Huddersfield (h), Bournemouth (h) round out the fixtures of 2018.

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp put the final nail in Jose Mourinho's Man Utd coffin, but he has been saying some nice things about the Portuguese at his Liverpool press conference this afternoon...

“He’s a very competitive guy. Very ambitious. Really competitive. He has all my respect," said Klopp.

“He’s unbelievably successful and I can imagine the last few months were not a joy for nobody, especially not him.

“It’s not nice when you have to face these questions every day but nobody can take away all the things he has won.

“I wish he has that in his mind and not other things that have happened in the last few months. He is an outstanding manager.”

He's even defensive in his set-up to leave a hotel.

A disputed social media post seems a fitting way to end the Pogba v Jose relationship. But maybe the big number six didn't send that tweet after all...

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is one man who has seen his name heavily linked with a move to the Old Trafford hot seat - next summer.

Here's what he had to say at his news conference a little earlier on.

Paul Pogba tweeted this not long after the announcement. He has since deleted it.

Image source, @paulpogba

Manchester United

In the unlikely event that you are just joining us and are not up to speed with the seimic events at Old Trafford this morning, here's the gist:

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United have sacked manager Jose Mourinho after identifying a catalogue of his failings at the club.

The Portuguese, 55, took over in May 2016 and led United to League Cup and Europa League titles, but they are 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

The club have made a change after no progress with results or style despite spending nearly £400m on 11 players.

They also say the new manager will understand the philosophy of the club, including their attacking traditions.

It is understood players and staff are not happy after a disappointing and unsettling period during which young players were not developed.

United are sixth in the Premier League, but closer to the relegation zone than leaders Liverpool, who beat them 3-1 on Sunday.

Matthew: As a United fan I absolutely do NOT want Southgate to replace Jose. After enduring a poor 5 years of football at United that WC run was sorely needed. I'm not willing to risk the progression of the national team for an impulsive decision from the United board.

Mark: I wouldn't feel too safe Spurs fans. Pochettino hasn't got his stadium and neither is he backed in the market by Levy. He would be at Utd. They already have the stadium. He might take the spurs dressing room with him. Could see Kane and Eriksen leaving.

Thanks very much Katie.

Mourinho - GONE. It's a big news day and make no mistake. Anyone who saw Gary Neville's face on Sunday night will know that it was the humane thing to do.

Who next?

Right, it's time for another change of personnel here at BBC Sport HQ.

That's all from me, I'll pass you into the very capable hands of Mr Tom Rostance.

Matt Reed: Interim manager needs to be someone who knows the club during the SAF era, has management experience, could be available quickly and wouldn’t be bothered about taking on a short term post. Is Carlos Queiroz the man?

Bobby Baker: Why on earth do you think any United fan would want an England manager that couldn't beat teams like Columbia and Croatia. The World Cup was not a success, we performed near or at expectations, nothing more! Gareth Southgate has proven nothing as of yet!