Manchester United: Jose Mourinho 'convinced' he will succeed Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford

Jose Mourinho is convinced he will become the new Manchester United manager if the club decides to sack Louis van Gaal at the end of the season. The former Chelsea boss has reportedly told friends he expects to take over at Old Trafford in the summer.

United were said to have held talks with the sought-after coach last week, although those claims were subsequently denied by Van Gaal. No deal has been agreed, however, and the club have also been linked with a number of other possible targets, including Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone.

However, a source close to the situation told The Telegraph: "Mourinho's going to Manchester United. It's a done deal. Chelsea is the only big job up for grabs."

Mourinho recently admitted he would like to continue to manage in England, where he has won the Premier League on three occasions. What's more, he has often spoken in glowing terms about United, which has led to speculation that it is a job he covets.

It is reported that members of the United board harbour fears about Mourinho's style of play and combative attitude. However, a desire to return the club to its former glories is said to be pushing them towards Mourinho.

United are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the Premier League table and it is widely believed Van Gaal – like his predecessor David Moyes – will be sacked if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.