"?Manchester United are set to announce the arrival of Jose Mourinho as new manager for next season mere hours after the FA Cup final at Wembley, irrespective of what happens. At least, that is according to a report from AS in Spain.
The sports daily claims that United will tell the world of a three-year contract for Mourinho after the game against Crystal Palace. Even lifting the trophy, therefore, seems like it will not be enough to save Louis van Gaal's job.
This level of speculation, however, is not something we haven't heard before. Only a couple of weeks ago United were also supposed to be just 'hours' away from public confirmation but it never happened.
Rumours of talks, agreements, pre-contracts and contracts with Mourinho and his agent, Jorge Mendes, have been thrown around for weeks with little substance so it remains to be seen quite what truth this latest update in the saga holds.
AS suggests that Mourinho would earn around £11.5m each season as United boss. It is even said that such have been the pattern of the negotiations that he would have been due handsome compensation if the club had taken the decision to keep Van Gaal on instead.
On Friday, there were rumours that United were planning to install the Dutchman as Director of Football to work alongside Mourinho in the head coach role. The story instantly raised a few eyebrows despite their existing friendship and it was little surprise to hear later reports of the club denying any such plans.
Van Gaal, who still has one more season left on the contract he signed in 2014, remains adamant that he will not be going anywhere before the end of his three years.
Ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks there are no two ways about it: Van Gaal has failed.
"Beating Palace will add a bit of gloss to the end of the season but you still can't get away from the fact they haven't qualified for the Champions League. It's as simple as that," Ferdinand told the Sun.
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