Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid Offer Dependent on UCL Amid Manchester United Rumours

Real Madrid will reportedly move to re-hire Jose Mourinho if they fail to make the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. 

According to Ed Malyon in the Mirror, if Real do not overturn the 2-0 deficit against Wolfsburg in Tuesday's quarter-final second leg, Madrid president Florentino Perez will return for Mourinho having failed to appoint him in January as Rafael Benitez's replacement.

The Portuguese has been widely rumoured to be taking over from Louis van Gaal at Manchester United in the summer, but he is reportedly "getting edgy," with Old Trafford sources indicating there is still no decision on who will be in charge next season.

Many United fans have been calling for his appointment for some time, and Bleacher Report's Dean Jones believes Mourinho could improve things at the club:

Per Malyon, Real have been told that Mourinho expects to take over at Old Trafford in the summer, but "the feeling" at United is that Van Gaal will remain in charge if they qualify for the Champions League next season.

That is a genuine possibility as the Red Devils are currently just one point back from fourth placed Manchester City in the Premier League.

However, the Sun's Neil Custis is reporting that Mourinho has begun house-hunting in Manchester and believes the assurances he wants from United are forthcoming—he already reportedly has a "verbal understanding" with the club that he will take over in the summer.

If that is not the case, though, he could well be tempted by the Real job, and Perez and the Madrid hierarchy would surely be comfortable handing him back the reins.

Zinedine Zidane has overseen a slight improvement from Real since replacing Benitez and engineered a fine Clasico win on Saturday, but the Wolfsburg result was unacceptable, and he took full responsibility, per AS:

If he cannot inspire a turnaround and see his side into the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition, his position may be under threat.

Real are staring at a second successive season without any major silverware, and Perez is clearly looking around for a safe pair of hands.

Mourinho is the only man who has led Real to a La Liga title in the last eight years—in 2012.

Considering his proven quality—and the fact that he is available—it would be no surprise if Real returned to the former Chelsea boss to rectify their current situation.

With United dithering, now could be the perfect time for Real to swoop, and Perez will seemingly make his move based on the outcome of Tuesday's match at the Bernabeu.