Louis Van Gaal Talks Planned by Manchester United Amid Pep Guardiola Rumours

Manchester United will sit down with manager Louis van Gaal in the new year to discuss the Dutchman's plans at Old Trafford and determine whether he wishes to extend his stay beyond 2017.

The owners of the club, the Glazer family, are understood to be "content" with the progress Manchester United are making under Van Gaal, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson.

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Confidence in the manager is so high, in fact, that the Red Devils would even decline the chance to bring in Pep Guardiola next summer should he leave his post at Bayern Munich, as expected.

Eurosport's Alexander Netherton believes it would be a mistake for the club to let Guardiola pass them by, owing to his quality as a manager and as a transfer market magnet:

But United could have their cake and eat it, too, after the Sun's Neil Custis reported on Monday that Guardiola would be willing to wait for his "dream job" at Old Trafford.

Custis writes the Spaniard will leave the Allianz Arena in 2016 before taking a year-long sabbatical to claim the United helm in 2017. It's at this point Van Gaal will reportedly retire to spend more time with his wife Truus, similar to Sir Alex Ferguson's reasons for leaving the club in 2013.

Jackson write that the Glazers will assess Van Gaal's intentions before drawing up plans "to cover any eventuality," but it's understood the United hierarchy are hoping to offer their boss a new contract.

Van Gaal has encountered some criticism this season despite guiding United back to Premier League title contention, most notably for a lack of attacking ingenuity, something which some fans feel goes against club tradition.

A 0-0 draw at home to West Ham United on Saturday was the club's fifth stalemate in nine games, but Van Gaal told reporters after the result that goals aren't everything, per Goal's Matthew Rogerson:

"

A lot of players have missed chances. A lot of players, and different players. We can make a big issue of it, but I don't believe we have to do that. The players admit they have to score. That's a normal issue but you can't score every chance and when you see how many players get chances in our team, it's not a fixed person.

It's not a law that we will miss all the chances we create. It's not like that in every match. I have great confidence that we shall score at Wolfsburg. I always have expectation. I always believe in my team and that's the confidence I want to show.

"

It's difficult to argue the Red Devils haven't made improvements under Van Gaal after conceding a Premier League low of 10 goals this season, keeping nine clean sheets and sitting just three points off the table lead.

The 64-year-old has previously suggested assistant Ryan Giggs will one day take his place at the club's helm, and when referring to the deadline-day signing of 19-year-old Anthony Martial, stated, per the Mirror's David Anderson:

"I have not bought Martial for me, I have bought him for the next manager of Manchester United. I feel I am introducing the next manager of Manchester United."

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However, there's no accounting for whether Van Gaal will stick to his original plan of a 2017 retirement date. Should United overachieve in the next 18 months, the former Netherlands chief could be tempted to continue, while under-achievement could convince him to stay in a bid to clear his name.

The club's hierarchy will develop a better understanding of his plans in January, a date that could influence Europe's management landscape dramatically in the years to come.