Manchester United have started to “lose interest” in former Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte, according to the Daily Star’s Chief Sports Writer Jeremy Cross.

The main issue appears to be the Italian’s wage demands, with Cross claiming that the ex-Inter manager is demanding around £18m a year to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

On top of that, Conte wants to bring in his own staff and that would mean, not only having to pay sizeable compensation to Solskjaer, but also to his backroom team: Mike Phelan, Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna.

A switch to a back three will also need to be implemented, and for that to be successful, Conte would need funds available to bring in a holding midfielder and a wingback when the transfer window opens in January.

It means Conte’s appointment could prove “hugely expensive”; something that the United board are not prepared to consider at the moment. With that being the case, Solskjaer has been allowed to keep his job, for the time being at least.