Ferguson holds an emergency meeting with Ed Woodward over Van Gaal’s future

Sir Alex Ferguson is helping decide Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United fate.

The former United boss, together with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and former chief executive David Gill, held emergency talks at Old Trafford yesterday.

Club officials are faced with a huge decision over the Dutchman’s future, after learning that first-choice replacement Jose Mourinho is being courted by his former club Real Madrid.

United owners Joel and Avram Glazer have left the decision over the manager to Woodward and his fellow board members based in the UK, and he is leaning heavily on Sir Alex and Gill for his soundings.

Both are supporters of Van Gaal still, who took training yesterday, but both are aware that if they don't act swiftly then they could lose Mourinho as a potential replacement, because of the situation at the Bernabeu.

Van Gaal, for his part, has told the club he will respect their decision whichever way the club decides, and sources within Old Trafford suggest he is philosophical about the outcome.

Fergie is a key figure in the discussions. He is a good friend of van Gaal and a fan of Mourinho and feels he could control the controversial boss’s excesses, but he also believes United shouldn’t become a sacking club.

Fergie’s chosen successor David Moyes was sacked before he had completed his first season in charge, with van Gaal appointed later that summer.

United have been made aware that Madrid president Florentino Perez quietly made contact with Mourinho after he was sacked by Chelsea.

Mourinho and he is expected to fly to Portugal for a family holiday, although he is keen to return to work as soon as possible.

United play Chelsea at Old Trafford next Monday after what is shaping up as a make-or-break game at Stoke on Boxing Day.