Louis Van Gaal is now the clear frontrunner to succeed David Moyes at Manchester United with reports in England today suggesting the club would expect the Dutchman to bring Patrick Kluivert to Old Trafford as his assistant.

The club has also been linked with a move for former Milan, Chelsea and PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti but according to a report in The Observer newspaper, United believe that luring the Italian away from Real Madrid would be complicated, most likely impossible, unless the season finishes very poorly for his side.

Van Gaal, on the other hand, is in the market for a club job after his contract with the Netherlands national team expires at the end of the World Cup. Tottenham have previously had talks with the 62 year-old bout taking over next season at White Hart lane but Old Trafford would almost certainly be his preferred destination.

Earlier, in reaction to reports in Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf that the Van Gaal deal was already done “in principle,” United said that nothing has been signed. “There is nothing to report,” the club said in a statement. “We have not signed a new manager. When we have something to report, we will announce it.”

Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, believes Ryan Giggs should become the next permanent United manager despite the club viewing the 40-year-old as lacking the requisite experience to become Moyes's long-term successor.

“I think that he (Giggs) is the one man they should go to, really,” Ferguson said at a fundraising dinner in Manchester this week. “He’s got 20-odd years of experience at Manchester United.”

Giggs stated at his media briefing before Saturday’s visit of Norwich City to Old Trafford that he and Ferguson have ongoing contact. “He was the first person I picked the phone up to,” the 40-year-old said.