Man Utd legend Ruud van Nistelrooy closing in on return to English football and must decide Red Devils flop’s future

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is reportedly closing in on the vacant Burnley job.

Van Nistelrooy, 47, has emerged as the favourite to replace Vincent Kompany following the Belgian’s Bayern Munich move.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is closing in on the Burnley jobGetty

Alamy

Vincent Kompany ditched the Clarets to take charge at Bayern Munich[/caption]

And Dutch outlet De Telegraaf claims a deal is close for Van Nistelrooy to return to English football after five years as a United player.

Craig Bellamy has been in charge of Burnley as interim boss in the wake of Kompany’s shock departure.

SunSport exclusively revealed this month that Frank Lampard was a contender to take charge at Turf Moor.

And Alan Pardew was also being considered by Clarets chiefs.

However, it appears Van Nistelrooy look set for his first managerial spell since leaving PSV Eindhoven a year ago.

The Premier League and FA Cup winner was hailed for his playing style during a 12-month spell there, bringing through stars like Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.

Burnley are said to be keen to build on Kompany’s intricate style of play.

And Van Nistelrooy, a 70-time Holland international who also won two titles at Real Madrid, appears to be the perfect fit.

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There will be several pressing items to sort out if he takes charge at Turf Moor, namely the future of former United flop Wout Weghorst.

The striker has returned from a loan move in Germany with Hoffenheim and still has a year left on his Burnley contract.

After several loans, the Clarets are finally determined to cash in on the £12million signing from Wolfsburg in 2022.

And Ajax are reportedly showing an interest in Weghorst, who scored the winner in his side’s 2-1 group stage victory over Poland at the Euros on Sunday.