Former Chelsea star Frank Lampard has revealed his belief that Jose Mourinho taking charge at Manchester United is a genuine possibility.
Louis van Gaal has come under significant criticism throughout the season for his side’s lack of goals and style of play, which in turn has added to the frustration over their likely struggle to qualify for the Champions League.
The Dutch tactician still has another year remaining on his current deal, but it hasn’t stopped speculation growing about United considering replacements with Mourinho near the top of the list of possible successors.
Having spent numerous years working with the Portuguese coach, Lampard is adamant that he would be a success at Old Trafford but reveals that he isn’t certain about the current situation.
“I don’t know,” he told This Morning when asked where his former boss might end up. “I haven’t spoken to him much. I spoke to him briefly when he left Chelsea.
“There’s a bit of a merry-go-round of managers at the minute and I think he’ll probably sit tight for a while and then will end up at a big club somewhere, because he’s a great manager.”
Asked whether that big club might be United, Lampard added: “I think it’s a possibility.
“If Louis van Gaal goes on, which I think he’s said he’s going to leave at the end of the season at the latest, I think Mourinho’s the type of manager that will certainly come into their thinking.
“He could certainly handle a club like that, that’s what he’s about.”
The former Inter and Real Madrid boss was sacked by the reigning Premier League champions in December following a poor start to the campaign, just months after he had guided them to the title the previous season.
Mourinho will continue to assess his options in the coming months, and could well be tempted by the United job with former foe Pep Guardiola set to take charge at Manchester City this summer.