Manchester United have played down a report that Louis van Gaal has agreed to assume their vacant managerial position.
The Dutch national team coach has been bookmakers’ favourite to succeed David Moyes, who was sacked last Tuesday.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported the 62-year-old former Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax boss has signed a deal with United but the club has moved to rubbish such claim.
“There is nothing to report,” a spokesman for the Premier League champions is quoted as saying on BBC Sport. “We have not signed a new manager. When we have something to report, we will announce it.”
The newspaper also suggests Van Gaal has been negotiating with United delegations this week in Portugal.
The Oranje head coach’s contract runs until the end of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and has previously revealed his intention to coach an English team, with Tottenham Hotspur likewise keen on signing him.
There was huge offer from Tottenham on the table and it was either going to be that one or Manchester United. In the end our sources, more than one, informed us last night that it is Manchester United… Marcel vab der Kraan, who broke the story for De Telegraaf, said.
Interim boss Ryan Giggs will take charge of the club for the remaining four matches of the season, starting with Norwich City’s visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.
