Still, winning football usually quietens any sceptical crowd, so he cannot be discounted. Louis van Gaal is another prominent contender and the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern coach will be a free agent when his stint with Holland ends at the World Cup. Robin van Persie is a huge admirer of Van Gaal, who is also a contender for the Tottenham job, but the Dutchman is an abrasive figure and, despite possessing a glittering CV, is arguably past his best days. And if United go for him, they risk having to wait until mid-July for Van Gaal to start work due to his World Cup commitments and that would leave the club well behind in terms of player acquisition and preparation for the new campaign.