@Rash Decision you've forgotten the other possibility: They don't know who to turn to.
The obvious answer is Conte. However, Conte is happy to call out the senior management he works for. He's done it at Juve, Chelsea and Inter. Do you think Conte will keep quiet if he asks for a defensive midfielder and the United suits say there's no money in the piggybank? He was on the verge of a public breakdown because Inter dragged their feet over Darmian. That probably frightens the United hierarchy because, as we all know, there are serious questions over how good they are at this football malarky. Having Conte expose them probably seems unwelcome to them.
So then who do they turn to?
Zidane. By all accounts he doesn't like England, English football and is waiting for a job he actually wants.
Then you start talking about compensation to hire a coach from another club. If we didn't have money for a defensive midfielder, do you really think the Glazers want to invest in a coach? Especially having had to pay out Ole's three year contract and that of his coaching staff? Money for sackings, money for appointments. Doesn't sound very Glazer does it?
So you're stuck at square one: Hope Ole salvages it and they can put off making the decision.
Lets face it they did this with Van Gaal. There were Mourinho scarves on sale at Old Trafford six months before Van Gaal got sacked. Everyone knew it was coming. But the club put it off so that Van Gaal would miss out on top four and it'd be cheaper to sack him.
Ultimately short-termism will condition the way the club handles this.