Ruud van Nistelrooy 'closing in on shock return to English football' with the Man United legend lined up to become the new manager of Championship side

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is reportedly close to reaching a deal to become the new manager of Championship side Burnley.

The 47-year-old has emerged as the favourite to replace Vincent Kompany, after the Belgian joined Bayern Munich following the Clarets' relegation to the second-tier of English football. 

Van Nistelrooy has been out of management since he stepped down from PSV Eindhoven at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Former England internationals Frank Lampard and Scott Parker have also been linked with the job, while Craig Bellamy is the current acting head coach.

But Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, claim that a multi-year deal is close for Van Nistelrooy to return to English football - 18 years after he left Old Trafford during his playing career.  

During his time at Manchester United, he scored 95 goals in 150 Premier League games, before later playing for Real Madrid, Hamburg and Malaga, before retiring in 2012. 

Van Nistelrooy won the Johan Cruyff shield and the Dutch Cup in the 2022-23 season, with a team that included the likes of Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and Chelsea's Noni Madueke. 

At Burnley there would be several issues for him to sort out, including the future of United's former Dutch striker Wout Weghorst. 

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

Van Nistelrooy in an interview with AS Sport, stated his desire of working in the Premier League in the future.

He said: 'I would really like to work in Spain, and I have had conversations with Spanish clubs. But also the other leagues in which I have played, I want to coach there too. In the Premier League, and the Bundesliga.'

To get to the Premier League, Van Nistelrooy would first need to overcome the challenge of the Championship if he does take the Burnley job.  

Burnley finished 19th in the recent campaign with 24 points, despite dominating the Championship with 101 points the year prior. 

The Clarets have already named the appointment of Henrik Jensen as a first team assistant coach, having previously managed Kalmarr FF in Sweden and Danish side Midtjylland. 

'It just felt like a good fit after good conversations. It just felt like we fit together,' Jansen said.

'I've followed this amazing, historic club. The playing style, the facilities and Turf Moor... I've seen matches and the atmosphere just seems amazing.

'To go out on that pitch is going to make me extremely proud.'