Louis van Gaal’s departure from Manchester United is imminent after he told a reporter outside his London hotel: “It’s over”.
Jose Mourinho is set to be appointed as his replacement, with the ex-Chelsea coach’s agent, Jorge Mendes, flying in this week to finalise the deal.
Van Gaal lifted the FA Cup at Wembley, but it will not stop Manchester United appointing Mourinho as their new manager.
The Dutchman is set to meet Old Trafford executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and a number of Glazer family members on Sunday for talks to confirm that he is being replaced this summer by the former Chelsea boss.
Van Gaal had hoped that he would have been given the opportunity to work the final season of his three-year contract if he lifted the FA Cup .
But that summit will confirm his departure a year early from Old Trafford. Woodward’s determination not sack his second manager in three seasons has been undone by United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
And even though Jesse Lingard’s goal gave United their first win in the tournament since 2004, the Glazers had become increasingly concerned that they would face a fans’ revolt if they failed to wield the axe.
It is understood that United’s midweek clash with Bournemouth was watched by fewer than 40,000 – the smallest Premier League crowd at Old Trafford since the stadium was being redeveloped in the 1990s.
Woodward has put all transfer business on hold in recent weeks while there has been much speculation surrounding the manager’s future.
Several agents have been met with a wall of silence after opening talks with the United chief about potential transfers.
But Van Gaal’s assistant, Ryan Giggs. has also been given permission to go on holiday this week after he asked the club whether he needed to remain in Manchester.
After United’s win , Van Gaal said: “It is fantastic to win this title for the club, for the fans, and also for me because now I have won the cup in four countries – and not many managers have done that.
“With 10 players – and we have played Tuesday evening also – we deserved it, I think. It was a super goal, eh?”
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