Manchester United reportedly have until the 1st of May to make their move for former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager has been a thorn in the Red Devils’ side during his two stints at Stamford Bridge. Even as fans and pundits continue to criticize Louis van Gaal and his tactics, the Manchester United board have delayed making a concrete decision on the ‘Special One’.
The Portuguese was rumoured to be one of the managers on the shortlist to replace retiring legend Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. However, influential members of the club were — and continue to be — sceptical of Mourinho’s suitability to the Old Trafford hotseat. It was even reported recently that Mourinho was resigned to losing the opportunity to manage the Red Devils due to his poor record of youth promotion and his abrasive style of management.
Another month to make the move
Jose Mourinho is keen to determine his future by the 1st of May, according to the Guardian. Manchester United would then be forced to reach a final decision about the Portuguese, with the board and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward holding a high opinion of the former Champions League, Premier League, Serie A and La Liga winner.
The two parties have even reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement. The agreement states that the Red Devils would have to pay a large amount to Mourinho if they fail to give him guarantees by May and an even heftier amount if they failed to sign him by June. In exchange, the 53-year-old will wait for the Red Devils to reach a decision before thinking about other options.
Louis van Gaal on the brink of exit
Dutch manager Louis van Gaal was brought to Old Trafford to steady the ship, but has failed to do so this season. After ensuring a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Van Gaal has seen his team knocked out of the UEFA Champions and Europa League this season, the latter after a historic defeat against arch-rivals Liverpool.
The Red Devils are still in the running for the FA Cup and could even conceivably mount a challenge for the top four. They are separated from Manchester City in fourth place by just one point. An FA Cup victory and a top four finish could save the Dutchman, but passing up on the opportunity to employ Mourinho would be a big gamble on Manchester United’s part.
