Football
PA Sport 8y

Jose Mourinho to Manchester United deal could be concluded Friday - source

Jose Mourinho has agreed to become manager of Manchester United, according to Press Association Sport, though the deal will not likely be concluded until Friday, a source close to the negotiations has told ESPN FC.

Sky Sports News reported at around 5:20 p.m. BST on Thursday that Mourinho, who had been pictured earlier in the day leaving and then returning to his London home dressed in a suit, had signed a contract with United to succeed Louis van Gaal.

But no announcement has been forthcoming from the club, and PA Sport has been told the deal is not yet complete. ESPN sources say the deal will likely be announced on Friday.

The 53-year-old Portuguese has been on the brink of sealing a dream move for him in recent days, but issues surrounding image rights have played a part in delaying the process. According to a source, Chelsea still held copyright to Mourinho's name at the start of the week even though he left the club in December.

The former Chelsea manager is set to replace Van Gaal, who left his role as United manager on Monday. Speculation has been rife about that change of management for several months, but United had not commented at all from December onward.

Van Gaal was dismissed less than 48 hours after winning the FA Cup, but he presided over a troubled campaign, having failed to progress in Europe and missing out on a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Earlier on Thursday, one of Mourinho's allies from his Inter Milan days, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, praised the Portuguese in a news conference and said the manager can lead United back to the top.

^ Back to Top ^