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On his way?

Mourinho edges closer to Manchester United job as rumours intensify

The ex-Chelsea boss has held talks about replacing Louis van Gaal this summer.

JOSE MOURINHO HAS held talks with Manchester United about becoming the club’s next manager, according to reports from the BBC and others.

The 53-year-old has been heavily linked with the United job ever since his sacking as Chelsea coach in December.

Mourinho’s sudden availability has coincided with a difficult spell for his former mentor Louis van Gaal with United suffering through a miserable December.

The Dutchman responded angrily to claims he tendered his resignation to the club’s CEO Ed Woodward following a loss to Stoke City on 26th December and again after a 1-0 defeat to Southampton earlier this month.

In recent weeks, things have improved with successive wins over Derby and Stoke though reports suggest he will leave United twelve months ahead of schedule, paving the way for Mourinho to become the club’s third manager in three years.

With crosstown rivals Manchester City announcing that Pep Guardiola would be installed as their new manager this summer, it would appear that United’s hand has been forced into pondering a move for the volatile, controversial but immensely successful Portuguese.

However, Mourinho was overlooked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor in 2013 and it remains the case that some of United’s top brass still have reservations about the self-christened Special One’s approach to management, particularly his relentless run-ins and his lack of interest in promoting young players.

But, United seem to have little wiggle room. With City having pieced together a long-term strategy for securing Guardiola, the red side of Manchester are preparing for yet another transition and by default rather than design.

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