Jose Mourinho Reportedly Opposed to Manchester United 2017-18 Job Proposal

Manchester United reportedly want Jose Mourinho to succeed Louis van Gaal at the end of the Dutchman's contract next season, but the former Chelsea boss "does not want to wait any longer than the next few weeks" before taking a managerial position.

That's according to an exclusive from the Sun's Phil Cadden, who reported the Red Devils have made such a proposal to Mourinho in the hope he takes a short-term offer from the Chinese Super League in the meantime before arriving at Old Trafford next year.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward spearheaded the proposal to the Special One's agent, Jorge Mendes, as he is "still reluctant" to part company with Van Gaal before his three years at the club are up "because it would be further evidence of his error in appointing the Dutchman in the first place."

Football writer Tom McDermott is sceptical of the story, however:

Former agent Vincent Rodriguez, who has "previously worked with [Mendes],"  according to McDermott, believes the veracity of the rumour but said the offer was made to Mourinho some time ago:

Indeed, he asserted the parties have recently held negotiations and that the situation has now changed, with the 53-year-old confident he will take charge this summer, though there are still issues to be ironed out:

Mourinho has been linked with the United job since his sacking from Chelsea in December, and that speculation has been compounded by the club's struggles in the meantime.

The Red Devils have scored the fewest goals (43) in the top half of the Premier League save for Stoke City, and the club could miss out on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League unless they can leapfrog Manchester City into fourth place.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Former United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz does not know whether his compatriot will be drafted in to turn things around, but he wouldn't be surprised.

Per the Daily Star's Rhys Turrell, he said: "I cannot say if [Mourinho] is on his way to Manchester United. But I can say that any crossroads between a big club and [Mourinho] is a logical and natural meeting point."

Qualification for Europe's elite competition does remain a possibility, though, and the club has reached its first FA Cup final since 2007, so there may yet be a positive end to a largely poor season.

At the club's end-of-season awards on Monday, Van Gaal remained defiant in the face of those who speculated over his future, per Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:

A recurring theme in the seemingly endless rumours circulating about the Dutchman is Woodward's reluctance to get rid of him, as noted by the Telegraph's Giles Mole in February.

If that is the case, silverware and Champions League qualification could easily mean Van Gaal sees out the final year of his contract.

A manager of Mourinho's quality isn't likely to want to wait that long, having already been out of football for the better part of six months, so United should tread with caution if they are pinning their hopes on him taking over then rather than this summer.