GOAL 

Manchester United have sacked manager Louis van Gaal, reports say. 

The Dutchman led United to their first FA Cup triumph since 2004 on Saturday, with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, though celebrations were quickly overshadowed by speculation regarding Jose Mourinho's imminent arrival.

Van Gaal's two-year reign at Old Trafford proved divisive, with several fans and former players bemused by the Dutchman's playing style having seen United score just 49 league goals this season.

And after Van Gaal arrived at the club's Carrington training ground for work on Monday he was relieved of his duties. The 64-year-old remained cordial throughout the rest of the morning but his backroom staff were seen clearing their desks after being sacked along with the man who brought them to the club in 2014.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward was also seen on site alongside one of the club's lawyer.

Mourinho has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in December, but is poised to return at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal's departure comes two years after his appointment, with the manager guiding the club to a fourth-placed finish in his first season.

However, United missed out on qualification for the Champions League - which they exited at the group stages this term - in his second campaign despite spending around £250 million on new players during Van Gaal's reign.

United have now failed to finish in the top-three since Sir Alex Ferguson's last season in charge, when they won the league in 2012-13.

Ryan Giggs was also on site on Monday morning, but he left around an hour later. The Welshman's future is unknown with Mourinho's appointment as manager on the horizon.