Jose Mourinho is reportedly ready to take on the manager’s job at Manchester United this summer, snubbing interest from both Real Madrid and Valencia, although it’s been stated the club will have to give the coach a final decision before May.

According to an exclusive piece from David Woods in the Daily Star, the Portuguese has told both of the La Liga sides he is “not interested” in positions. Instead, he looks to have won over those at Old Trafford who were unsure about his appointment and is poised to take over from Louis van Gaal.

“There were understood to have been concerns at United over Mourinho’s perceived failure to give chances to young talent at his previous clubs,” added Woods. “But the 53-year-old appears to have persuaded United’s powerbrokers behind the scenes that the opposite is true.” 

Jamie Jackson of the Guardian claimed United have “until the start of May” to let Mourinho know of their intentions, however. “The former Chelsea manager continues to listen to job offers but has so far refused these as he would seriously consider taking over at United,” he added. “… He wants a new position lined up in time to start planning for next season.”

Valencia are currently without a manager after they parted company with Gary Neville earlier this week, while Real, even though they appointed club icon Zinedine Zidane this year, are concerned that their boss has been “struggling to make an impact since taking charge at the start of the year,” per Woods.

Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague is convinced the former Inter Milan and Porto boss will not be at the Mestalla next term, suggesting United is his most likely destination:

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in December with his side toiling in the Premier League. The 53-year-old had steered the Blues to the Premier League title in 2014-15.

While Van Gaal has given the supporters some great moments this season—1-0 wins away at Liverpool and Manchester City stand out—on the whole the team has underachieved and failed to entertain the supporters.

While Mourinho’s approach to football may not make Old Trafford a venue for thrilling attacking play, he’s a proven winner and would ensure this team is at least challenging for honours again. The chance to manage a side of United’s calibre is something he’d surely relish, too, as World Soccer Talk’s Amadi Tidiane Thiam notes here:

United would be a completely different job to any Mourinho has taken on before. Challenging would be enough to win a portion of the fanbase over after a spell without silverware following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

But this a club where winning has long been done in a particular style; the natives want entertaining football played by bright young stars.

The Red Devils have deep-rooted ways of doing things and with the job now seemingly his for the taking, it’ll be fascinating to see just how stringently the Portuguese falls in line with that blueprint.

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