David Moyes has failed to shine since joining United at the end of last season[GETTY]The Glazer family, United's American owners, are understood to have finally run out of patience with Moyes whose nightmare first season as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor took another turn for the worse on Sunday following the 2-0 defeat at his former club Everton.
United's hierarchy remained silent last night but it is understood that official confirmation of Moyes' departure will be made when the New York stock exchange re-opens today after the Easter holiday weekend.
Moyes, 50, signed a six-year contract worth around £36m less than a year ago but break clauses in the deal mean he is likely to receive a golden goodbye of around £12m. United's longest-serving player Ryan Giggs, appointed onto the coaching staff by Moyes, is likely to be put in charge for the remaining four games of the season, starting with the home game against Norwich on Saturday, while United start the search for a new boss.
Veteran Dutch coach Van Gaal - who will leave the Holland job after the World Cup - and Borussia Dortmund's Klopp are favourites for the job. But Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone and former United player Laurent Blanc, now in charge Paris St Germain, are also likely to be considered.
Despite inheriting a title-winning squad, Moyes has seen his side slide down the table [GETTY]It's been difficult watching other teams above us do well and to even look at a league table
While the Glazers and United's football board expected a transitional season following Ferguson's retirement last May, they did not anticipate the campaign turning into United's worst for nearly a quarter of a century.
Moyes, who was Ferguson's personal recommendation for the job, was still expected to meet certain targets - the main one being to finish in the top four of the Premier League to ensure qualification for the Champions League.
But United have slumped to seventh place - 23 points behind leaders Liverpool and 13 points outside the top four - after an alarming decline following their 20th title last season. It is the worst title defence since Blackburn slipped from top to seventh in 1995-96.
With no discernible signs of improvement during the second half of the season and rumours that Moyes had 'lost' the dressing room, the Glazers are understood to have had second thoughts about entrusting him with a transfer war chest of around £200m this summer to re-build the squad.
Ryan Giggs looks set to take charge for United's remaining fixtures [GETTY]Sunday's lack lustre defeat at Moyes' former club Everton was United's 11th in the Premier League this season and ended their faint hopes of reaching the top four. It also proved the last straw for the Glazers.
Ferguson, who urged United fans to give Moyes time, is highly unlikely to have agreed with the decision to fire him before the end of his first season and it will raise questions whether he will step down as a director.
Phil Neville, the former United player who was appointed as coach by Moyes, accepted the new regime had failed in an interview at the weeknd when he said: "We have not fulfilled any levels of expectations this season. We have failed on the football pitch and that doesn't sit kindly with anyone.
"We are not hiding away from the fact we have underperformed. It's been difficult watching other teams above us do well and to even look at a league table. I find it difficult to watch Match of the Day on Saturday night; I find it almost impossible because we've suffered this season."
Bizarrelly, the bookies installed top referee Howard Webb as a 500-1 outsider for the job.
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