Jose Mourinho Reportedly 'Dreams' of Manchester United Amid Real Madrid Rumours

New developments have emerged surrounding Jose Mourinho's management future amid claims he "dreams" of taking over at Old Trafford, but pundit Andy Gray says the Red Devils don't want the former Chelsea boss.

Mourinho has been tipped to replace Louis van Gaal as his side lie sixth in the Premier League following an eight-match winless streak. Marcos Lopez of Spanish newspaper Marca reported Mourinho's former club Real Madrid have already decided there won't be a return to the Bernabeu and claimed he's holding out for United:

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The Special One dreams of taking charge of the Red Devils. Mourinho has had United in his sights for some time now. His friendship and conversations over a glass of fine wine with Sir Alex Ferguson are well known - together they were a thorn in Benítez's side when he was in charge of Liverpool and then Chelsea.

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Mourinho has made no secret of the influence that Sir Alex Ferguson has had on his leadership style, but Fergie's iron fist has not worked for Mou. 'The Special One' has lost his touch. His teams no longer break the mould, his tactics are not decisive and the players do not appear capable of being everything that they could be and more.

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Something has to change quickly at Old Trafford if Van Gaal is to keep his job, and while Monday's 0-0 stalemate with 14th-place Chelsea showed some improvement, United remain in a state of free-fall.

According to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, Mourinho "should be appointed" given his record as a proven winner, having already won three Premier League titles in two spells at Chelsea:

But former Sky Sports pundit Gray told talkSPORT the Red Devils want nothing to do with the Portuguese and are content in persevering with Van Gaal, who led his side to just two defeats in their opening 15 games of the Premier League season.

Although the record now makes for less encouraging reading, the Scot proclaimed the Old Trafford hierarchy will continue to put their faith in the incumbent boss:

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I don't get the impression coming from the inner sanctum at Old Trafford that they are looking to get rid of Louis van Gaal unless they really, really have to do because of pressure from the fans. And I get the impression they don't want Mourinho. Jose Mourinho has been available for two weeks and, after that awful performance at the Britannia, if they really wanted Jose Mourinho that was the perfect opportunity for Manchester United to go ahead and get him.

I think Mourinho and United is just something that might not happen. I don't think United are in a hurry to do anything at all. If they really wanted Mourinho, they would have jumped by now.

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It makes sense to suggest United would have made their move for Mourinho by now had they wanted him, with United in the midst of their worst winless streak since the 1989-90 campaign.

The reputation of former Barcelona and Bayern Munich chief Van Gaal has suffered just as Mourinho's has in the wake of his Chelsea sacking. Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said the latter's fall from grace shows no tactician is invulnerable:

Van Gaal has 18 months left to run on his Manchester United contract, and after spending a reported £250 million on transfers since his 2014 arrival, there's the sense at Old Trafford that more was expected.

Despite Lopez's claim Mourinho won't head back to Los Blancos, Real Sociedad playmaker Esteban Granero, who played under the unemployed manager at Real, told Marca a reunion is on the cards (h/t ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan):

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It is natural that a world-class coach is linked with a club on the same level. Mourinho and Madrid have been united once, and I am convinced they will be again. And that it will be good for both.

They have been saying that for some games now. We must stay away from speculation around the opponent. In my opinion, he is a coach who has the confidence of the club and must be given time. We are midway through the season and judgements are made at the end.

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Just as Van Gaal's position is in a state of uncertainty, so too is that of Rafa Benitez at the Bernabeu, but United and Real have both shown thus far that they're willing to continue with their current chiefs.

The speculation surrounding Mourinho will likely continue until he assumes another role, with mixed reviews as to whether Real Madrid or Manchester United desire his assets at all.