Manchester United 'have a deal in place' to sign Jose Mourinho next summer

Manchester United have a deal in place with Jose Mourinho to take over at Old Trafford next summer, according to reports. The Red Devils have decided to part ways with Louis van Gaal and the Portuguese manager is primed to return to the Premier League after a disappointing season at Stamford Bridge.

Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reports that both Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho will co-exist in the same city next season, with the former Barcelona manager taking over at Manchester City. The duo had locked horns in Spain, with Mourinho winning the La Liga title once, which saw Guardiola leave the Catalans to embark on a year-long sabbatical.

United are currently firmly positioned in fifth spot, five points adrift of Arsenal, who have dropped to fourth on goal difference with Tottenham Hotspur, and 10 points behind leaders Leicester City. The Red Devils are without a trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 and director Ed Woodward is desperately looking to get his side back on winning ways by appointing Mourinho at the helm.

The move has been backed by former Chelsea player Ray Wilkins, who believes Guardiola's influence can only be bettered by Mourinho, failing to appoint whom can see a major shift of power at Manchester. The Red Devils have historically been the more dominant force in the rivalry between the two sides but Guardiola's arrival can change the dynamics.

"I don't like to talk about a job when somebody is already in it but Jose would be the ideal person to go in to United and put up a fight against Guardiola. There's no two ways about it because he has those characteristics in him," Wilkins told Talksport. "The Champions League is a massive lure and Manchester United have to end up in the Champions League because if they don't they will have to buy the B player," he added on the importance of them finishing in the top four.