Louis van Gaal could collect a lucrative severance package if Manchester United gives the manager the boot.
The Dutchman will receive a £5-million windfall if the club ends his stay at Old Trafford prematurely, with ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho apparently lined up as his successor at United this summer, reports Matt Hughes of The Times.
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Van Gaal's annual £3.3-million basic salary is further supplemented by a series of performance-related, loyalty, and image-rights clauses, Hughes reports - including a £400,000 bonus if the 64-year-old steers United to victory over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on May 21. Should he fulfill all the clauses, his yearly pay packet rises to £8 million.
He's already missed out on a reported £1.5 million this season, however, after failing to clinch honours in both the Champions League and Premier League, and another £750,000 for falling short of second place in the English top tier.
The alleged £5-million payout if Van Gaal leaves does not apply if he chooses another job before he's sacked.
United travels to struggling Norwich City on Saturday, and sits four points adrift of local rival Manchester City in the Champions League qualification places.