• Premier League

Van Gaal announcement delayed until next week

Louis van Gaal will not be announced as Manchester United's new manager until next week with negotiations over his contract ongoing, a club source has told ESPN.

The club are ironing out the last details with the Dutchman over his deal, with Van Gaal currently busy with the Netherlands national team.

The Dutchman is in his homeland preparing his side for a friendly with Ecuador this weekend as they build up to the World Cup with United keen to formally announce him as David Moyes' permanent successor as soon as they can.

Ryan Giggs met with Louis van Gaal in the Netherlands on Wednesday © Getty Images

Enlarge

Having refused to answer questions about United during his latest press conference for the Dutch national side, Van Gaal is believed to be focusing his attentions on Saturday's friendly, hindering any chance of a deal being concluded before Sunday at the earliest.

Van Gaal doesn't want anything to affect the Netherlands' World Cup preparations and an announcement from United is now not likely until early next week.

Ryan Giggs, who filled in as interim manager for United's final four games of the season, has been offered the job as assistant manager after having talks with Van Gaal on Wednesday, a source told ESPN.

The 40-year-old was pictured outside the Hotel Oranje in Van Gaal's hometown of Noordwijk, after meeting the Dutchman, who had a day away from the Netherlands' pre-World Cup training camp in Hoenderloo.

However, there are still backroom issues to be sorted out at United, with widespread reports suggesting that coach Phil Neville and the club's goalkeeping trainer Chris Woods - both trusted lieutenants of former boss Moyes - have been told they do not have a future under the incoming manager.

United chief executive Ed Woodward is set to be grilled by New York Stock Exchange analysts early this afternoon about his search for a successor to Moyes.

The delay means Woodward will now have no news of a new manager to announce when he has to explain United's third quarter financial results.

Louis van Gaal is in the Netherlands preparing the Dutch national side for a friendly with Ecuador on Saturday © Getty Images

Enlarge

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd