Sir Alex Ferguson drafted in for 'emergency talks' by Manchester United to help decide Louis van Gaal's future

United are determined to give Van Gaal every chance to succeed

Louis van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson in 2009 (Getty Images)

Manchester United have drafted in Sir Alex Ferguson to help decide the fate of under-pressure manager Louis van Gaal, according to reports.

As The Independent revealed, the United hierarchy are determined to give the Dutchman the chance to save his job over the busy Christmas period, despite Jose Mourinho's current availability.

Despite Van Gaal's recent bad form and the tensions in the first-team squad, the Glazers and Ed Woodward do not want to sack him unless they absolutely must, with his off-field changes during his tenure buying him extra time.

The United hierarchy aren't completely convinced by Mourinho, despite his outstanding record, and hold reservations over his failure to develop young players and his penchant to clash with referees and the Football Association.

However, according to the Daily Mirror, club great Ferguson was part of an 'emergency meeting' at Old Trafford on Monday.

United have not won any of their last six, a run of games that has seen them crash out of the Champions League group stage and lose their last two matches to Bournemouth and Norwich City; United have won just three of their last 13 in all competitions.

The Dutchman may only have until the New Year, they play Stoke City on Boxing Day and host Chelsea on 28 December, to save his job, despite the board wanting to keep him.

With Mourinho only available for so long, he has already been linked with a return to Real Madrid while rejecting an offer from Roma, United know they have to act quickly if they want to appoint him.

Ferguson is a friend of Van Gaal and a huge fan of Mourinho, not holding the same reservations that Sir Bobby Charlton, among others, had when they had the chance to appoint the Portuguese as the Scot's replacement in 2013.