Manchester United Reportedly Eye Pep Guardiola, Hold Concerns over Jose Mourinho

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is reportedly keen to recruit departing Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola in the summer, with incumbent boss Louis van Gaal under increasing pressure and the club having a number of concerns regarding sacked Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

So reports Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail, who notes Woodward has Guardiola "in his sights" as United prepare to rival Manchester City and Chelsea for his signature.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal "is being judged on a game-by-game basis," but understandably the club would prefer to fire him in the summer—particularly as that is when Guardiola will become available.

Mourinho is available now having departed Chelsea, but according to Ashton, the Red Devils hold concerns over his poor track record in developing and bringing through young players—something Sir Alex Ferguson was especially known for with the famous "Class of '92."

Further, though the Portuguese is keen to take over at Old Trafford, Woodward "does not want to be dictated to" by him, according to Ashton.

With the attractive, attacking style of football Guardiola breeds, his use of younger players and his overall standing in the game, the Spaniard is naturally a target for any elite club whose managerial situation isn't already locked down and United are no different.

Jon Super/Associated Press

As for Van Gaal, evaluating him on the merits of each game as they come is a counter-productive exercise as performance levels aren't likely to change over night—to use one of the Dutchman's favourite words, it is indeed a "process."

Football writer Liam Canning also believes such an approach isn't worthwhile, though he hopes Van Gaal is removed from office sooner rather than later:

"

I just don't see how a win vs Stoke will change anything for LvG. Surely the damage is done and it's now inevitable. Biding his time.

— Liam (@OffsideLiam) December 23, 2015"

With United in fifth place in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Leicester City and without a win across their last six games in all competitions, results certainly need to improve quickly, though.

If the Dutchman is relieved of his duties before the end of the season, United could certainly do worse than Mourinho as an immediate boost given his phenomenal trophy record.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Further, according to Martin Lipton of the Sun, City are "confident" of winning the race to Guardiola so United could stand to miss out if they pin their hopes on recruiting him in the summer.

With that being the case, Canning believes Mourinho is the right fit:

United's concerns are valid, though, as the 52-year-old's frequent courting of controversy and failure to utilise youth players make him less of a natural fit than the Spaniard, presenting a dilemma for the club's hierarchy.

Of course, Ferguson was no stranger to controversy himself, but he had years of success at Old Trafford to fall back on, not to mention the utmost respect he commanded from players, pundits and the media alike.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Meanwhile, Mourinho has a tendency to rub some people up the wrong way and some things he got up to at Chelsea won't necessarily be welcomed at Old Trafford—for example, his treatment of Juan Mata.

Despite being a fans' favourite and the Blues' player of the year two seasons running, Mourinho sold the Spaniard upon his return to Stamford Bridge, but because of his legendary status at the club, the manager largely escaped the fans' ire—something that is unlikely to happen at United.

Mourinho also isn't known for producing the exciting football United fans crave, so he won't necessarily be a quick path to returning to the glory days of old.

Nevertheless, many United fans would probably be open to Mourinho taking over, despite his high-profile struggles earlier this season, given how dour they've been for some time now under Van Gaal.

If the Dutchman goes before the end of the season, the Red Devils have few quality immediate options other than the Portuguese coach, but a club of United's stature shouldn't be allowing their closest rivals an almost free run at Guardiola.

The next six months could have huge ramifications for both United and the Premier League as a whole for years to come, so the Red Devils need to make sure they get their next managerial decision right.