Premier League
Manchester United 'holding talks with Jose Mourinho', report claims
A report in the Manchester Evening News claims that Jose Mourinho has opened talks with Manchester United about taking over.
The newspaper claims that no agreement has yet been reached - contrary to some reports on the continent - but claims to have confirmation from inside Old Trafford that "communication between both parties has taken place over the last two weeks."
Mourinho was fired by Chelsea in December after an atrocious start to the season, but he still commands a stellar reputation and with United labouring ineffectively under Van Gaal he has been widely tipped to take over the hotseat.Yet United's form has picked up in the last couple of matches, the team bouncing back from a humiliating home defeat by Southampton with two solid wins, the mid-week victory against Stoke City being particularly impressive.
But the Manchester Evening News's Samuel Luckhurst says that "Van Gaal is far from out of the woods", and that the club's owners are still pursuing Mourinho in case they decide to pull the trigger.
"The club is still open to the possibility of Mourinho managing at Old Trafford, despite opposition from influential members," the report adds, before detailing United's cosy relationship with Mourinho's agent.
"United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward tightened United's links with Mourinho's agent, GestiFute head Jorge Mendes, last season with the record signing of the super-agent's clients Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao's loan before David de Gea, also represented by Mendes, signed a new contract in September.
"Woodward and Mendes' relationship is so cordial that Woodward arranged for Mendes' daughter to do work experience at Old Trafford two years ago."
United and Woodward are still hoping that Van Gaal will turn things around so that the Dutchman might stay despite opposition from fans, the report goes on to say, describing Woodward as "determined to remain loyal to Van Gaal".
"However, United could kick-off at Chelsea on Sunday eight points adrift of the top four and the majority of supporters remain adamant there needs to be a change of manager," the report concludes.
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