Jose Mourinho has reportedly held talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the possibility of replacing manager Laurent Blanc this summer, meaning Manchester United could be set to lose out unless they enter the fray soon. 

That’s according to the Daily Mail‘s Sami Mokbel, who reported Mourinho “wants a deal agreed by next week,” so if United do not make the decision to replace Louis van Gaal shortly after Saturday’s FA Cup final they may find the top candidate to replace him has gone to the French capital.

Mokbel wrote that current PSG boss Laurent Blanc could be at risk of being replaced due to the club’s persistent failure to make a significant impact on the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League—something Mourinho has experience in having lifted the trophy with Porto and Inter Milan.

While the lack of competitiveness in Ligue 1 could be off-putting for some managers—Les Parisiens won the league by 31 points this year—the virtual guarantee of trophies and huge resources available for transfers could tempt Mourinho to go there.

Further, barring a return to another of his former clubs, there are only a relatively small handful of teams left in European football that Mourinho might perceive to be big enough to consider joining—and fewer still that would realistically appoint him at this moment in time based on either the job their current boss is doing or his former allegiances.

Per Sky Sports News HQ, the Special One has confirmed he has not yet made an agreement with any club to take over this summer:

Even if United are able to lift the FA Cup under the Dutchman, missing out on Mourinho could be a huge blow to their chances of success next season.

The Red Devils have all-but missed out on Champions League football, and the ponderous, unimaginative play they’ve produced in midfield and up front has seemingly left a great deal of the Old Trafford faithful wanting more.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News believes Van Gaal’s underachievement must necessitate his exit from the club:

With Pep Guardiola taking charge at Manchester City, Antonio Conte at Chelsea and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and West Ham United likely to improve again—not to mention champions Leicester City—United look set to be left behind if Van Gaal is in charge next season.

Football writer Liam Canning believes as much:

Bringing in Mourinho soon after the FA Cup final would require decisive action on the part of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward—the kind he has seemingly been reluctant to take during his tenure at the club—but if the club won’t be keeping Van Gaal there is sense in moving quickly so as to give the new manager more time ahead of next year.

However, there will be other factors to consider—such as the payout the 64-year-old will receive if he’s relieved of his duties this summer—so if United do aim to bring in Mourinho they will need to strike a balance between securing him before PSG and handling Van Gaal’s exit correctly.

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1YxO2uj
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J