Jose Mourinho Reportedly Offered Real Madrid Job Amid Manchester United Rumours

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly been offered a return to Real Madrid but is continuing to be linked with Louis van Gaal's job at Manchester United as pressure steadily mounts on the Dutchman.

According to the Mirror's John Cross, despite Rafa Benitez still being in the dugout at the Bernabeu, Los Blancos president Florentino Perez wants Mourinho "in charge as quickly as possible" to replace the beleaguered Spaniard, leaving the Portuguese with a dilemma as he is hoping to take over at Old Trafford if Van Gaal departs.

It seems Mourinho might have already made up his mind, with the Sunday Times (h/t AS) reporting he "must have already turned down an offer" from Los Merengues as he is holding out for the United job if it should become available to him.

Football writer Liam Canning called for the Red Devils to appoint Mourinho during and after their dismal Boxing Day defeat to Stoke City:

"

Ed Woodward surely now can’t bottle this decision. LvG HAS to go. Simple as that. Bring in Mourinho, let him spend and we go again.

— Liam (@OffsideLiam) December 26, 2015"

Aside from his struggles with Chelsea this season, the 52-year-old has had remarkable success with a magnificent trophy record including eight league titles and two Champions League titles in his 15-year managerial career, so it's no surprise he's firmly in the discussion for the United job.

That job might soon be vacant with the Red Devils now winless in seven games—for the first time since 1990, according to Squawka—and having lost their last four in all competitions.

After the 2-0 loss to the Potters, Van Gaal admitted he could walk away from Old Trafford, per BBC Sport, and it certainly wouldn't be a surprise if he did so if United fail to beat Chelsea on Monday.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

According to the Sunday Times (h/t AS), though, the Portuguese would prefer to take over in the summer.

With that being the case, if Van Gaal should go before then, United should wait and keep their options open, as Pep Guardiola will also be available in the summer when he leaves Bayern Munich.

Indeed, the altogether less controversial Spaniard would probably be a better fit at United and also produces the attractive attacking football the Old Trafford faithful crave—while Mourinho's football isn't as dour as Van Gaal's is at the moment, it's not that dramatic a departure either.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Regardless, waiting until the summer gives United the option of either.

Assistant boss and United legend Ryan Giggs has been touted as a possible replacement also, per former footballer and Sky Germany pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft.

However, the former Wales international's lack of experience could see the Old Trafford hierarchy simply place him in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season, which presents its own problems.

The next six months will be absolutely vital to United's future, so it's imperative that whatever their decisions are they be the correct ones.

Otherwise, the Red Devils could find themselves slipping perilously further behind their rivals and require years to fully recover.