Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle has questioned the timing of Manchester United's plans to hand manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a new contract upgrade.
It broke last week that United were ready to table a new three-year contract to Solskjaer, which would include a bumper pay-rise, despite the Norwegian still having well over a year to run on his existing deal. It was also suggested Solskjaer would receive the new deal even if United finished this season without any silverware.
For Hoddle, the best thing for all parties would be to wait. Though he can also see why United's board would be prepared to bring forward their plans.
Asked if they should wait at least until the end of this season, Hoddle said on his podcast ' The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show': "Well that would be the sensible thing to do.
"But he's obviously building something and they're happy with what they're seeing. Only the people inside Man United football club would know what's happening and how this squad is being put together."
Indeed, Hoddle admits United have surprised him this season, conceding he expected Solskjaer's team to have fallen away by this stage of the campaign.
"Surprisingly for where they are, second in the league, they've held onto that position and he's done a marvellous job to do that. I didn't expect Man United to be up there at this stage in the season. I just felt they were too inconsistent.
"But they've been more consistent and have had their moments where they've been exhilarating."
However, Hoddle says there are some pitfalls emerging for United in the season run-in.
"I do think (Bruno) Fernandes has gone off the boil a bit with fatigue. And he's been withdrawn from the Cup team. Without him, they're not the same. Not quite as dangerous. For a team of Man United, you can't just rely on one player.
"(Paul) Pogba has been showing more recently. (Luke) Shaw has had a very, very good season.
"They've kept this run going. You just feel there's more to come from Man United."
On Solskjaer's contract, Hoddle added: "Whether they've done enough for Ole to say 'where's the long contract?', Ole will know, whether he signs it or not, football's football, you can be on a 10-year contract, it doesn't really matter. If results go AWOL for a period of three or four months, you're under pressure."
The former England coach was also pressed about Solskjaer's tactics and whether he has seen the United manager's approach mature and develop over the two years he's been in charge.
"I think he experimented when he first came in," continued Hoddle. "In games he had a back three... but now he's gone with a back four and they look more secure.
"I think their Achilles heel was their defensive unit, but now there's a bit more solidness about them.
"It was always going to take two or three managers to rebuild Manchester United after what Sir Alex Ferguson had done. It happened to them when Sir Matt Busby finished.
"I always thought the third manager that went in would have a better chance than the one following Sir Alex.
"Ole's come in now and you can see him building something."
And Hoddle says the reliance on Fernandes, while not ideal, is something that worked for Sir Alex at times during his tenure.
"When they were in their heyday and won their titles, in some respects I remember (Eric) Cantona and (Peter) Schmeichel almost got them over the line winning the league. They'd win 1-0, Schmeichel would be the difference and Cantona would create something up top... and don't forget they won that way.
"So it's a little bit of a replica of the modern day Man United at this time."
Listen to this week's full episode of 'The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show' - a Tribal Football partner - below: