Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal bookies favourite to be sacked following Jose Mourinho's Chelsea dismissal

Van Gaal's United have been knocked out of the Champions League and have fallen off the pace in the Premier League

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (EPA)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is now the bookies' favourite as the next Premier League manager to be sacked after Jose Mourinho's Chelsea dismissal yesterday.

Van Gaal's position as United manager has been under much scrutiny this term, with the team falling off the pace in the Premier League as well as being eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage, despite spending £170m on new arrivals, such as Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay last summer.

The Dutchman is now just 6/4 to be next boss in England's top flight to leave his post. The next is Newcastle's Steve McClaren all the way back ay 5/1.

Mourinho was thought to have attended Chelsea's Christmas lunch with the playing squad before his departure was confirmed in a meeting with chairman Bruce Buck and director Eugene Tenenbaum.

Mourinho's exit followed nine defeats in 16 league games this term, results that have caused a shocking descent into the relegation mire.

The messy departure of Dr Eva Carneiro, now suing the club, after being branded "naive" by Mourinho in August, has been viewed externally as causing extra unrest.