Louis van Gaal will be sacked if Manchester United finish outside the top four.

The Sunday Mirror says winning the FA Cup this season will not save the Dutchman from the Old Trafford axe.

United's share price, on the New York Stock Exchange, is in free-fall – a staggering £320million has been shaved off the stock market valuation of the club within the last six months.

The key to keeping the owners – and investors – happy is ­qualification for the ­Champions League.

That means Van Gaal must either guide United to a top-four finish in the Premier League or win the Europa League, which now carries a passport into Europe's top club competition.