OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is close to being appointed manager of Euro giants Besiktas.

The Turkish club have been without a manager since sacking Giovanni van Bronckhorst last month.

Getty

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in advanced talks to return to management[/caption]

Getty

The Norweigan has not been in post since being sacked by Man Utd four years ago[/caption]

Solskjaer, 51, has not held a managerial role since leaving Manchester United in 2021.

The former Red Devils striker helped guide United to a second-place finish in the Premier League and reached a Europa League final.

According to Fabrizio Romano, negotiations between Solksjaer and Besiktas are in the “final stages.”

Solksjaer is set to sign a “one-and-a-half-year contract” with the Turkish club.

He is due to watch Besiktas’ game against Samsunspor this weekend from the stands in Istanbul.

The 51-year-old has been linked to the vacant Leicester City and West Ham jobs over the past year.

Ole was also touted for a shock return to Old Trafford before Ruben Amorim took the helm.

Solksjaer spent nine seasons with United as a player, winning six Premier League titles and scoring over 100 goals.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

The former super sub took on the manager’s role at the Theatre of Dreams in 2018 after a successful spell in interim charge.

But he was sacked less than three years later.

Besiktas would be the fourth club of Solksjaer’s managerial career.

He has also taken charge of Cardiff City and Molde, twice winning the Tippeligaen with the Norwegian side.

Besiktas are currently sixth in the Turkish Super Lig with 30 points from 18 games.

Leaders Galatasaray are in charge of the title race, with former United boss Jose Mourinho‘s Fenerbache giving chase.

The Special One has railed against the Super Lig and its officials in recent weeks, branding the league “toxic”.

DONALD Trump gives a menacing look in a new official portrait released just days before he returns to the White House.

The President-elect, 75, scowled for the camera in the brightly lit snap while wearing a blue suit over white shirt and blue tie while sporting an American flag in his lapel.

EPA

Donald Trump gives a menacing look in a new official portrait released just days before he returns to the White House[/caption]

Reuters

Joe Biden delivered a bumbling farewell from the White House’s Oval Office[/caption]

Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States at Washington DC’s Capitol on Monday.

His transition team also released an official pic of incoming Vice President JD Vance.

The team said in a statement on Thursday: “In just four days, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States and JD Vance as the 50th Vice President of the United States — and their official portraits are here.

“Official portraits released – and they go hard.”

Meanwhile Trump’s political enemy Joe Biden delivered a bumbling farewell from the White House’s Oval Office on Wednesday evening.

Sitting behind the Resolute Desk, the 82-year-old outgoing President gave a 19-minute address to the nation.

Biden warned that an “oligarchy” is emerging in America in what many saw as a swipe at Trump and his billionaire tech tycoon backer Elon Musk.

With a raspy voice, he said: “I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern.

“And this is a dangerous concern.

“And that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

Biden also cautioned against what he described as the “real dangers” of social media.

He said: “I’m equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country, as well.

“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power.

“The free press is crumbling, editors are disappearing.

“Social media is giving up on fact checking.

“The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit.

“We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families and our very democracy from the abuse of power.”

Honda's fortunes have been turning for the better of late, and the brand has confirmed strong supply and stock levels coming into 2025.

Two Australian beers have picked up gold medals at the World Beer Championships, a true-blue recognition for one of Australia’s favourite beverages. 

US President-elect Donald Trump wants to make Hollywood "bigger, better and stronger" and has chosen three actors to help realise his vision.

Australia's ambassador to the US and former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd has reached out to Donald Trump's incoming administration ahead of his inauguration.

It remains true that house prices could crash but it’s at least equally likely that there will be a slow decline in inflation-adjusted prices, which will gradually increase housing affordability.

If you’re lying awake at night thinking about how you are going to cover your children’s back-to-school expenses, you probably couldn’t afford tickets when Coldplay came to town.

Rio Tinto and Glencore have been discussing combining their businesses, according to people familiar with the matter, in what could result in the mining industry’s largest-ever deal.

Manchester United have come from behind to beat Southampton 3-1, while goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter fired Brighton to a 2-0 win at Ipswich.