Manchester United transfers rumours and news: Louis van Gaal on brink; Jose Mourinho confident of landing job
All the latest transfer rumours and news to emerge from Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.The future of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal continues to overshadow the club’s January transfer dealings with the Dutchman reportedly on the brink of leaving. Van Gaal is considering his options as Ed Woodwood, the vice-chairman, holds talks with players and club executives about life without the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
The Red Devils have been linked with moves for Lazio’s Felipe Anderson this month but safeguarding short-term stability in the dugout has taken precedent in recent weeks. The Daily Mail report that Woodwood is looking into the option of hiring Ryan Giggs until the end of the season should United elect to dismiss Van Gaal early.
Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager who the Independent revealed has sent United a six-page dossier, is increasingly confident of his chances of taking the top job at Old Trafford. Following the 1-0 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday afternoon, the pressure has been mounting on Van Gaal amid a chorus of discontent in the stands and on online message boards.
According to the Times, Mourinho has held talks with the Red Devils boardroom and is beginning to expect, rather than hope, to be installed as their new manager. “I’m very disappointed that I cannot reach the expectations of the fans,” Van Gaal said this weekend. “They have — or they had — great expectations of me, and I cannot fulfil them, so I am very frustrated because of that.”
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has accused Van Gaal of allowing his ego to ‘come crashing back down to earth with an almighty bump’. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Redknapp says United supporters have seen enough and it is a time for change at Old Trafford.
“United are an average team with average players and the nightmare scenario of missing out on the top four is now looking a genuine possibility,” he added. “If the United board had wanted to appoint Mourinho they would have done it already so I think they will wait until the summer and go for somebody like Pep Guardiola or Diego Simeone, if they miss out on the top four.”
In a rare piece of gossip not involving manager talk, young defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is in line to receive a new contract offer in the coming days. The 18-year-old has impressed when needed to step into the breach this season and is set to be rewarded with a new £10,000-a-week deal, according to the Daily Mirror.
Luke Shaw remains a long-term casualty after his double leg break at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in September, while Marcos Rojo is continues his recovery from shoulder surgery.
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