Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed that winning the FA Cup and finishing in the top four this season could be enough to save manager Louis van Gaal's job.

There has been repeated speculation throughout the campaign that Van Gaal is on the verge of being sacked, with numerous reports suggesting that United will move for Jose Mourinho at the end of the season.

However, the Red Devils are still in the running for a top-four spot and reached the final of the FA Cup by beating Everton at the weekend, which Ferdinand believes could leave the Dutchman with a "great argument" for staying.

"If he wins the FA Cup and United finish in the Champions League [qualification places] he could sit there and say that is progression. Speaking to people at Manchester United in and around the ground and supporters around the country, they are not playing the type of football they are accustomed to seeing at Manchester United," Ferdinand told talkSPORT.

"They want to see football that is respectful of their history of the club. It has been a lot of sideways, sideways football. But I watched the game at the weekend and if that is a sign of things to come, then Louis van Gaal has got a great argument to put forward."

Van Gaal's reign has been notable for a number of youngsters coming through, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Timothy Fosu-Mensah breaking into the first team, and Ferdinand believes that should the veteran boss leave Old Trafford this summer then his legacy could be a good one.

"This season has been a bit doom and gloom for Manchester United with the way they have played but Louis van Gaal's legacy if he is going to have one when he leaves is the introduction of all these young boys, with Rashford leading the charge," Ferdinand added.

"It has been great for football and it will be nice for managers around the country to take heed of that. Bringing in young players as he has and getting to the FA Cup final - albeit they are not doing too well in the league - that is a good part of his time and story at Manchester United."

United are currently five points adrift of the Champions League places, but do boast a game in hand over both Arsenal and Manchester City.