Red Devils Deny Guardiola Interest As New Van Gaal Contract Talk Intensifies

Premier League giants Manchester United have distanced themselves from the Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola, and are instead looking to extend Louis van Gaal’s stay beyond 2017.

Manchester United travel to Wolfsburg for a must-win game, as only a victory will guarantee them a spot in the Champions League last 16.

But ahead of one of his biggest games as a United manager, Louis van Gaal’s future has been thrown into the spotlight over the weekend. The Old Trafford club has denied any interest in bringing Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola to England, and they’re instead looking to sign the Dutchman up to a new deal beyond his planned retirement date of June 2017.

Such news will surely come as a shock to those who have seen Manchester United’s struggle in recent weeks.

Van Gaal has repeatedly stated that he wishes not to go back on his promise to wife Truus, and will retire when his current contract runs out. But, as Van Gaal has said himself: “In our football world, you never know.”

And since the Red Devils have no plan to speak to Guardiola, their desire to approach Juventus manager Allegri or Carlo Ancelotti can also be ruled out. The Juventus boss has publicly committed his future to the Serie A club, but the former Real Madrid boss did admit earlier this week that the United job would appeal to him when he returns from his medically-enforced sabbatical.

There are also plenty of other options, like Manchester United’s very own Class of ’92 legends Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, or even the ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho. However, by the looks of it, United currently seem adamant to stick with Van Gaal.

The atmosphere at Old Trafford is not poisonous just yet, but a breaking point does not seem far away, especially with the fans being unhappy, coupled with Van Gaal’s frequent agitation by the line of questioning coming from the media.

Van Gaal has claimed that the United fans who stop him on the streets of Manchester have only nice things to say, but there is surely a growing hostility from huge areas of the Old Trafford stands towards his style of play.

Despite a substantial case building against Van Gaal, United continue to back him, and a victory over Wolfsburg would surely help the board’s plan, whereas a defeat would definitely demand a rethink.