The Hague: Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has reached a deal to join Manchester United as manager after the World Cup, replacing sacked David Moyes, a Dutch newspaper report said on Saturday.
Popular broadsheet De Telegraaf said “the national coach late last (Friday) night reached a deal with the top British club,” without citing sources.
“The man who’s the absolute number one to replace axed coach David Moyes will immediately take up the job when the Dutch Eleven is knocked out of the World Cup in Brazil,” the paper added.
Van Gaal, 62, who has been on holiday at his villa in Portugal’s Algarve “has been in talks with Ed Woodward, lawyer for club owners the Glazer brothers for a multi-year, multi-million contract,” it said.
Included in the deal would be a 100 million euros ($138 million) in transfer fees to beef up United’s flagging fortunes.
Van Gaal — whose stylish way of football and no-nonsense attitude has earned him the nickname the “Iron Tulip”, has emerged as the front-runner to take over the hot seat at Old Trafford after Moyes’ unceremonious end-of-season release.
The Dutchman brings with him a long list of successes including several Dutch titles with top club Ajax and unfashionable AZ Alkmaar, a Bundesliga crown with Bayern Munich and Spanish championship with Barcelona.
Van Gaal — who has long said he wanted to move to British football after the World Cup — has in the past also been linked a possible deal with Tottenham.
With the arrival of United’s representatives in Portugal, “Tottenham Hotspur saw earlier this week that there was little chance in the fight to sign up the Dutch coach,” De Telegraaf said.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription