Jose Mourinho on standby to replace Louis van Gaal if Manchester United slip up again

MANCHESTER UNITED have put Jose Mourinho on standby to take over as their manager.

Sacked Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been lined up to replace Louis van Gaal at Manchester United

Under-fire Louis van Gaal is set to be given the two Christmas games - at Stoke on Boxing Day and at home to Chelsea 48 hours later - to save his job.

But if the Dutchman fails to halt United's dismal run - they are winless in six matches - Mourinho has been lined up to take over in the New Year.

United have chosen not to give Van Gaal a vote of confidence and also refused to deny reports from Spain yesterday they have already agreed in principle a five-year contract with Mourinho's representatives.

A club source said: "There's nothing to report here. We are just not getting involved in this."

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho, 52, is the overwhelming favourite among United's increasingly disgruntled fans to replace Van Gaal who has presided over three successive defeats.

And he is understood to be happy to take a major pay cut to take a job he has coveted for a long time. He earned £10m a year at Stamford Bridge but will accept around £6m to take charge at Old Trafford.

It was business as usual for United yesterday. Van Gaal took training at the club's Carrington training complex before his players handed out Christmas presents to young patients at three Manchester hospitals in the afternoon.

And it is understood Van Gaal is planning to hold a pre-match press conference on Wednesday ahead of the Boxing Day game.