Manchester United reportedly requested for Jose Mourinho to wait a year before replacing Louis van Gaal in the managerial hot seat.
The Portuguese tactician was sacked by Chelsea last December, and has made no secret of his desire to return to management, and preferably in the Premier League.
With Van Gaal coming under intense pressure, it was believed that Manchester would be Mourinho’s next destination. According to The Sun, the Red Devils wanted to keep their current boss for the last year of his contract before moving for their preferred target.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is understood to have wanted Mourinho to possibly accept a lucrative deal in China for a year, before then returning to England where the United job would have been waiting for him.
However, it is now claimed by The Sun that the former Chelsea boss is closer than ever to landing his preferred job after making it clear that he intends on returning to top-level management this summer.
Whether or not that results in him being confirmed as Van Gaal’s successor remains to be seen, as the Dutchman could arguably earn the right to see out his contract depending on results in the coming weeks.
United are still in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League, while they will hope to lift the FA Cup later this month when they take on Crystal Palace in the final.
It is up for debate as to whether securing Champions League football for next season and a trophy should be enough to save Van Gaal, but having had their request seemingly turned down by Mourinho, United will be forced to act in the next couple of months if they’re serious about landing their man.