Manchester United are set to appoint Lillestrom manager Andreas Georgson as the club’s new permanent coach.

The Swedish coach will join Erik ten Hag’s revamped defence if United activate his release clause with the Norwegian club.

The 42-year-old only started his new role at Lillestrom eight months ago, but reports in Norway suggest United are willing to pay £280,000 to release him from his contract.

And the Premier League giants know exactly what they are getting with Georgson, who comes highly recommended by the club’s technical director Jason Wilcox.

Wilcox worked closely with Georgson last season at Southampton, where the Swedish manager spent the first half of last season.

Georgson was appointed Director of Football by Wilcox during his time at St Mary’s.

And he has wasted no time in convincing Old Trafford’s top brass to bring him to Manchester.

Speaking about the Swede’s appointment at Southampton, Wilcox said: “Andreas has an excellent understanding of the game model we are building here, where set-pieces play a major role.

“He’s an expert in what he does and eats, sleeps and breathes in really set patterns. That makes him another string to our bow within the coaching staff that supports Russell and the team.”

Georgson, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence and a UEFA Certificate in Football Management, is no stranger to English football, having utilised his set-piece specialism at Arsenal and Brentford before joining Southampton.

He started his coaching career at Swedish club Malmö, where he rose from the youth team to assistant coach of the first team.

He returned to the club in 2022 as head of the first-team and served as interim manager for a short period before moving to the south coast in August 2023.

His arrival would result in an almost unrecognisable coaching team compared to when Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford in 2022.

Georgson would join new faces Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, who have taken on the role of assistant manager.

Jelle ten Rouwelaar was also brought in as the club’s new goalkeeping coach this summer, while former Red Devil Darren Fletcher takes up the position of first-team manager, alongside United first-team manager Steve McClaren.

United hope the new signings can breathe new life into the club after a disappointing season which saw them finish eighth – their lowest position in Premier League history.

Ten Hag’s men will kick off the new season on August 16 against Fulham at Old Trafford.