Jose Mourinho has told friends and associates that he will replace Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager at the end of the season, according to reports in several British newspapers on Wednesday.
The Daily Mail, Daily Star, Daily Mirror and Daily Telegraph all quoted an unnamed source close to the 53-year-old Portuguese as saying his installation at Old Trafford was a "done deal".
The former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto coach was sacked by Chelsea in December but said in an interview last week that he would soon be back in management, preferably in England.
Van Gaal, who has another year left on his contract after this season, has had to deal with constant speculation about his position after United made a stuttering start to the season.
The Dutchman said on Sunday he thought reports of negotiations between United and Mourinho were an invention of the media.
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“You have spoken with [United’s executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward?” Van Gaal said. ”Why do they have to deny? I don’t interfere neither [sic]. Why do the club have to deny it when you are creating stories. OK, OK, so you haven’t spoken to Ed Woodward or [United’s owners] the Glazers, so you are inventing this story.
“I don’t have to answer this question.”
Speaking to a reporter, he said: “You are getting the sack tomorrow. What is your name? Then I can announce the name also. [You can] look at your wife, or maybe you have children, or a nephew or something like that.
“We have to do better. We have to improve in that way. But I’m happy with the performance. It was not a ’boring’ match, so for the third time in a row it was sparkling. So I also hope to get the support of the media this week.”
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