Pep Guardiola Reportedly 'Asking' About Jose Mourinho, Manchester United Rumours

Incoming Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is reportedly making enquiries to find out if his old rival Jose Mourinho will be taking over at Manchester United in the summer.

According to the Sun's Phil Cadden, the Spaniard "has been asking friends to find out" if the Portuguese will be taking charge at Old Trafford, pitting them in direct competition with one another yet again after they clashed as managers of Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.

Per Cadden, a friend of Guardiola's said: "Pep wants to know if Mourinho has an agreement with Manchester United. Is he worried? Not really, but it will make life interesting if Jose is there."

The pair went head-to-head for two fiery, enthralling seasons in La Liga, with Guardiola's Barca beating Mourinho's Madrid to the league title in the latter's first campaign in charge, and the reverse happening the following year. 

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

As noted by Jack Gaughan of the MailOnline, once colleagues in the back rooms at Barcelona, their rivalry as managers was often less than cordial, with the pair frequently exchanging barbs at one another in the media.

It would not be a surprise if Mourinho does take charge of United this summer with the Red Devils in serious danger of another barren season and possibly set to miss out on the UEFA Champions League again thanks to their torrid campaign under Louis van Gaal.

Football writer Liam Canning is hopeful the pair will be pitted against each other in Manchester next season:

Eurosport's Tom Adams is also eagerly awaiting the potential feuds that could be reignited if Mourinho should return to the Premier League:

"

Ranieri, Benitez, Wenger, Guardiola. A sensational season of managerial subplots awaits if Mourinho returns. A gallery of his worst enemies.

— Tom Adams (@tomEurosport) March 11, 2016"

From United's perspective, Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News believes the Red Devils need to recruit Mourinho or face losing further ground on their rivals:

What won't be too encouraging for the Old Trafford faithful is Mourinho's record against Guardiola, as the former has beaten the latter in just three of 15 attempts. By contrast, Guardiola has won seven of their encounters.

After the dismal season United have had—which arguably may not be salvaged even if United manage to lift the FA Cup or the Europa League—their fans are unlikely to put too much stock in that, though.

Indeed, fans of both sides will no doubt relish the renewal of hostilities between the two managers, while United supporters will view Mourinho as their path back to success.