There's an intriguing situation playing out in the media when it comes to whether or not Jose Mourinho will be taking over at Old Trafford. On one hand you have the fairly incessant reports about the 'fact' that the former Chelsea boss will be stepping into the breach when Louis van Gaal if shuffled out the door this summer.
If you're to believe those reports, Mourinho has either (a) signed a contract, (b) signed a contract that says he will sign a contract or (c) agreed to sign a contract at some stage in the near future. Behind all of this, somewhere, is Jorge Mendes. It all sounds a bit Machiavellian but fans are understandably sceptical when it comes to Mendes/Mourinho getting what they want and in this instance, Mourinho either wants the United job or they want to let it be known that Mourinho wants the United job.
Whether that job is actually on the table is another matter entirely.
Last weekend, Louis van Gaal gave one of his biggest indications yet that there was very little chance he'd be leaving before the end of his contract. It was the club rather than Van Gaal that had pushed for a three year deal (as opposed to the two years that the Dutch boss wanted).
Now the indications that are coming out of the club would suggest that Van Gaal is right to be feeling comfortable in his position until the end of his contract in 2017. Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles has been close to the story from the beginning and the latest soundings coming out of the club last night are just the latest indication of how badly this is all being handled.
Manchester United have asked Jose Mourinho to replace Van Gaal as manager. In the summer of 2017. #MUFC #CFC #RMCF pic.twitter.com/Ia1DTjEdCg
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) May 4, 2016
That line is being repeated in quite a few of the daily newspapers this morning and there's every reason to believe that there's quite a bit of truth to it. Van Gaal was very assured of his position last week and the indication is edging towards the possibility that he will in fact survive through to the end of his contract.
That however, is not something that Mourinho would take too kindly to.
Unsurprisingly, Mourinho is not interested in waiting an additional year to return to management.
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) May 4, 2016
All of this quite simply points to a situation that is looking increasingly farcical. In failing to take a definitive stance one way or another, the United board have long since lost this battle. The constant dripping of information from the Mourinho camp to the press has done little other than to undermine Van Gaal and in refraining from giving their utmost backing to their current manager, Ed Woodward and co. may think they're being dignified and not bowing to errant speculation.
However, the reality is that no one is coming out of this in a better position and as soon as long as things remain up in the air, Mourinho, Van Gaal and the club, are all on a hiding to nothing.
