Man United's next boss Louis van Gaal told to repair damage of Moyes' reign and £35m Champions League loss

Ed Woodward suggests United are in for a very busy transfer window as they look for an immediate return to the Champions League under the Dutchman

Clear message: Van Gaal has been tasked with putting Manchester United back at the top by Woodward

Louis Van Gaal will be ordered to take Manchester United “back to the top of English football – after taking a £35million hit on missing next year's Champions' League.

United vice chairman Ed Woodward dropped his biggest hint yet that Van Gaal is close to being named as boss – and that his big name experience and reputation is what United require to bounce back.


Woodward says United's board expect an immediate return to the top four, and Champions' League qualification next season after a “very disappointing 7th place finish” under David Moyes.

Speaking to investors Woodward says that not being in the Champions' League next season would cost the club “mid-£30 millions”.

The next manager will have to “absolutely to get straight back into the Champions League. You will see this reflected in transfer market.”

And hinting an announcement will be made within days on Van Gaal he added ambition would be shown “with what we have done on the managerial front recently.”

Woodward warned that United's wage bill is likely to soar in the “mid-teens per cent” by the end of the financial year, because incoming transfers in the summer.

It was confirmed that sacked Moyes has received a pay off “in the single digit millions”, with Woodward adding: “We are working hard to make sure out performances are what are expected of Manchester United.”

Woodward says season tickets and executive packages were “going well” despite their dip from being champions to out of the top six.

And he hinted a big off field growth, saying he didn't regard United as a “mature” business yet – with sponsorship and digital opportunities ahead.

Tough time: Moyes got a single-digit millions pay-off

There was no announcement on a new kit deal.

Woodward revealed revenue for the financial year is expected to be between £420-30 million.

Woodward said: “Are we assuming to go back into Europe? Clearly we are. The club's expectations, and you will see this reflected in the transfer market, and what we have recently done from a managerial perspective, our aim absolutely is to get back into the Champions' League.

“We estimate the impact of not qualifying for European football to be in the mid-30 millions of pounds.

“As you are aware we made a managerial change at the end of April following David Moyes' departure, Ryan Giggs, the club's most decorated player, assumed responsibility for the first team as interim manager.

“We are grateful to Ryan for holding the reigns during this period and the exemplary manner in which he conducted the role. We are now focused on bringing in a new manager who will help Manchester United return to the top of English football and challenging in Europe.

“We expect to make an announcement in due course. In the mean time we continue to be active in the transfer market.”

Asked about the wage bill rising, Woodward: “It will be a year on year increase. We do expect there to be inflation in player wages, partly due to the market, and we are looking at investing in players this summer anyway.

“Recent news has indicated that UEFA is taking a strong line on clubs that breach FFP rules. We continue to support FFP and believe it will continue to control cap ex and player wage inflation. We also believe the quality of a club's academy will be a key differentiator when FFP begins to take effect.”

Woodward added: “We will be active in the transfer market and the window is upon us and deals are being done but not been done in terms of the past tense. You will have to wait and see as we go through the window. We will assess how active we will be in September.”