Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 5y

Man United to face Solskjaer's hometown club in preseason friendly - sources

Manchester United are in talks with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's hometown team Kristiansund about a preseason friendly this summer, sources have told ESPN FC.

United are already scheduled to play warm up games in Australia, Singapore, China and Cardiff ahead of next season and have started negotiations about playing an extra match in Norway in July.

After playing Perth Glory and Leeds United in Perth, Solskjaer's team are due to face Inter Milan in Singapore on July 20 before travelling to Shanghai to play Tottenham on July 25.

They will also play AC Milan in Cardiff on Aug. 3 -- a week before the Premier League season is due to start on Aug. 10.

The game against Kristiansund, based in Solskjaer's home town and the 10th-placed side in the Norwegian top flight, could take place between the fixtures against Tottenham and Milan.

United's summer plans have been complicated by the prospect of playing a Europa League qualifier on July 25 -- the same day they are due to play Tottenham in China.

United will be involved in a Europa League second qualifying round first leg on July 25 if they finish sixth and Watford beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Sources have told ESPN FC that the club have a contingency plan in place if that situation arises which could include fulfilling both fixtures with separate squads.

United, sixth in the table after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea, can still finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.

However, with just two games remaining and three points adrift of fourth-place Chelsea it is likely they will miss out on a place in Europe's top club competition for the third time in six years since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.

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