Manchester United Monitoring Mourinho Situation – Report

Manchester United are reportedly monitoring Jose Mourinho's current situation, with the Portuguese manager currently the bookmakers' favourite to take over from the departed Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea.

Mourinho is widely believed to be lined up as a replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson when the legendary manager retires from the post at Old Trafford, though recently the 70 year old said in a recent interview that he won't be doing so for the next two to three years at least.

If Mourinho does decide to take the Chelsea job, in the wake of Roberto Di Matteo being made caretaker until the end of the season, then the 'Special One' will seem unavailable to take on United within that time frame, though considering Roman Abramovich's history, he could be available for another job by then.

And according to local paper the Manchester Evening News, United are keeping a close eye on any developments, as well as cross town rivals Manchester City should Roberto Mancini not deliver the silverwear the side are striving for this season.

While speculation is connecting Mourinho to a move to Chelsea, realistically it would appear unlikely that he would want to return to the club that he left because of such power struggles with Roman Abramovich.

In fact, the purchase of Andriy Shevchenko in 2005 was the beginning of the end for Mourinho's tenure at Chelsea, according to numerous sources, which Abramoivch reportedly insisted that the striker come to Stamford Bridge, despite Mourinho's insistence that the star didn't fit with the side's style of play. Many of the current Blues squad still claim they have a close relationship with their former manager, but Abramovich and Mourinho never publicly overcame their differences.

Mourinho had the last laugh over his relationship with Abramovich, going on to win a Champions League trophy with Inter Milan, and looking a lot closer to doing it again with Real Madrid than Chelsea do now.

Ferguson has said in the past that Mourinho reminds him of himself at a younger age, sending rumours into overdrive that when he does leave United, he might put in a recommendation for the 49 year old to come forward for the job at Old Trafford.

But after Mourinho was spotted looking at houses in London, it could even be a possibility that he is considering taking the job at Tottenham, granted that Harry Redknapp makes his exit for England at the end of the season.