It is becoming the worst kept secret in football. Such is the level of speculation surrounding Louis Van Gaal and the Manchester United job, it seems to be more of a question of when rather than if. Indeed, some newspapers are claiming he may even be appointed this week. Van Gaal inherits a Manchester United side in need of a major squad overhaul. A 7th place finish in the Premier League this season constituted Uniteds worse finish for 24 years. There will also be no European football at Old Trafford next season. David Moyes, who had been chosen as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson last summer, only lasted 10 months of his five-year contract, an indication of how concerned the clubs board was. United may be renowned for being a club of stability, but they are also revered for their trophy collection, so Moyes had to go. With the players themselves undoubtedly taking some of the blame for Uniteds poor season, fans can expect to see a summer spending spree. Prior to Moyes departure, there was talk of a £200million transfer kitty. Van Gaal will have access to this. But for players to come in, players must go out. Van Gaal is famous for his ruthless nature, with player fall-outs often occurring during his reigns. He believes in his football philosophy and will stick to his beliefs no matter what. The current United squad should be fearful, as the Dutch manager will have no issues with showing any of them the door.
Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.
