Manchester United target Jose Mourinho will return to management in the summer

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has set his sights on returning to management in the summer as he continues to be linked with a Manchester United job. The Portuguese tactician was sacked from his post at Stamford Bridge last December and is without a club since then.

Louis van Gaal is in charge at Old Trafford and his contract will run down after the end of the next season. United have struggled under the Dutchman in all competitions raising questions over his future beyond this campaign.

Mourinho is the favourite candidate to replace Van Gaal at United. The Mirror reports the ex-Real Madrid boss and the 20-time English champions have agreed a deal in principle to replace the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager at the club.

After Chelsea showed him the exit door, the former Premier League manager admitted that he has already got "good" options. Mourinho also went on to suggest that speculation surrounding his next move is a "lie".

"I was lucky enough to have good options since I left Chelsea in December," Mourinho told BT Sport, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

"Yes, I was lucky enough to have not just options but good options but I made a decision to wait calm in my corner, not disturbing, just waiting, reading a few lies, listen to a few lies.

"The reality is that I want to work and normally July, mid-July, new pre-season starts and somewhere I want to be there."

Former United striker Scott McGarvey told IBTimes UK that Mourinho should take charge at Old Trafford later in the summer after a disappointing campaign under Van Gaal's guidance. McGarvey believes the current Red Devils manager's time at the club is up and it is time for a change after the end of the 2015/16 season.