Ryan Giggs future: Manchester United fear legend will leave if not given manager's job after Louis van Gaal

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is believed to have compiled a six-page dossier to the Red Devils hierarchy

Ryan Giggs, right, can have a huge say in how Manchester United play according to Louis van Gaal (Getty)

Manchester United fear losing assistant manager Ryan Giggs if the Welshman is not offered the top job when Louis van Gaal leaves, according to reports.

Speculation is rife that Van Gaal will be dismissed if the Red Devils fall to defeat to Derby County in the FA Cup fourth round tie at the iPro Stadium on Friday night. The 64-year-old’s side have already been dumped out of the Champions League and Capital One Cup at early stages.

The suggestion that Van Gaal offered his resignation on Saturday evening, following the 1-0 home defeat to Southampton, appear premature but Ed Woodward, the chief executive, is known to have talked his manager out of leaving in the past.

The Daily Mirror report that United chiefs are growing increasingly alarmed that Giggs may look elsewhere for his first full-time managerial role if overlooked for the post.

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is believed to have compiled a six-page dossier to the Red Devils hierarchy last week outlining his suitability for the role should the position become vacant.

But senior members of the decision-making process are said to have deep reservations about appointing the cantankerous Portuguese.

Following the defeat to Southampton, Van Gaal’s men are 10 points adrift of Premier League leaders Leicester City and five short of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The uncertainty is likely to have caused considerable unrest among the first-team squad with Woodward said to have consulted a host of players about the escalating situation.