Jose Mourinho 'Missed' by Florentino Perez, Latest on Manchester United Rumours

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez reportedly "misses" having Jose Mourinho as manager at the Santiago Bernabeu, a feeling likely enhanced following Los Blancos' 2-0 UEFA Champions League quarter-final defeat to Wolfsburg in Germany on Wednesday.

The Portuguese manager believes, as widely rumoured, that he will take over as Manchester United manager in the summer, although Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal also believes he is staying on, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague:

"

On Mou. His people say all done with United. Most football people think all done too. MUFC say no decision made. LvG thinks he's staying.

At the Bernabeu Florentino is confused. [Real], when they have to take initiative, like today [against Wolfsburg], are poor. Physically poor too. He misses Mou.

"

The speculation surrounding Mourinho, 53, will remain until it is announced he has a new job. Spanish outlet El Pais went as far as indicating he has a pre-contract agreement in place with United (via Ed Aarons in the Observer).

Van Gaal, though, has reportedly been "given assurances" he will still be in charge in 2016-17 and is set to be handed an £80 million transfer kitty ahead of next season, per Dutch outlet De Telegraaf (via Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News).

That would be a lavish—and arguably undeserved—reward for the former Ajax and Barcelona boss, whose side is struggling to make the Premier League's top four despite having spent more than £250 million on signings since he was appointed in 2014.

The prevailing attitude is the Dutchman has been a failure at Old Trafford and that the instalment of Mourinho could change the fortunes of a struggling club. It a view held by Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:

A couple of decent results of late—victories against Manchester City and Everton—have given United a better chance of qualifying for next season's Champions League, but there is still no guarantee.

The competition is fierce, with three clubs all fighting for the final spot—United, City and West Ham United—and Arsenal still not completely safe from dropping out of the top four.

#	Team	Pl	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Leicester City	32	20	9	3	55	31	24	69
2	Tottenham Hotspur	32	17	11	4	57	25	32	62
3	Arsenal	31	17	7	7	52	30	22	58
4	Manchester City	31	16	6	9	56	32	24	54
5	Manchester United	31	15	8	8	39	27	12	53
6	West Ham United	31	13	12	6	49	37	12	51

However, even if the Red Devils make the group stage of the Champions League next season, Van Gaal did little to prove this term he has the skills to guide them through to the latter rounds.

In a relatively easy group in 2015-16—Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow—United only picked up eight points and finished third, dropping into the UEFA Europa League.

That is not good enough for a club of United's stature, and Van Gaal's inability to introduce an attractive style of play at Old Trafford or engineer consistently good results has seemingly left his job hanging by a thread.

The clamour is there for Mourinho to come in and return United to winning ways, but Van Gaal remains in charge.