'Chelsea rumours are fake news'

After Van Gaal was spotted in London to watch Sunday's EFL Cup final at Wembley, it was reported the former Manchester United manager was being lined up by the Stamford Bridge club as a replacement for under pressure Antonio Conte.

Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in Van Gaal, who has been out of work since leaving United after winning the FA Cup in May 2016, and those rumours will most likely intensify following the 'Gunners' 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in that cup final. 

But Van Gaal, who lists Barcelona and Bayern Munich among his previous employers, suggested the reports are false.

"They saw me at the airport I suppose and that’s how the 'fake news' was born," Van Gaal told Dutch outlet 'Ziggo'.

"I'm used to people who want to take a picture with me - and you need just one picture that is sent to the 'Daily Mirror', and [then] there is news about me going to Chelsea or Arsenal. You can call it 'fake news'!"

In December, Van Gaal confirmed he rejected an approach from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, but the 66-year-old indicated he would take charge of another Premier League club to "spite" Manchester United after his Old Trafford sacking.