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7th May 2024
11:22am BST
Jose Mourinho would like to return to Manchester United for a second stint at the club, according to sources close to the manager.
It's as speculation mounts over the future of current United boss Erik ten Hag.
On Monday night, the Red Devils suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace. This was their 13th league defeat a season, which is a club record in the Premier League era, and leaves them at real risk of missing out on European football altogether for next season.
The Manchester Evening News reports that Mourinho, who managed the Old Trafford club from 2016 to 2018, has told confidants he would "walk" to Manchester for a second spell in charge of them.
However, it is understood that the club has no plans or desire to reappoint the Portuguese, and Mourinho is not expecting an approach from his former club.
The defeat at Palace leaves United eighth in Premier League. They haven't finished outside the top seven in the league since 1990.
It now seems almost inevitable that Ten Hag will depart the club at some point this summer. Although he won the League Cup last season and has guided United to a second consecutive FA Cup final this year, the Dutchman has yet to receive any vocal backing from Sir Jim Ratcliffe since he purchased a 27.7 per cent stake in the club earlier this year.
Mourinho was appointed as Man United manager in May 2016, replacing Louis van Gaal. During his time at the club, he won the League Cup and the Europa League, and led the club to a second-placed finish in the league.
However a poor start to his third season in 2018 saw him sacked in December that year.
Most recently, he has taken charge of Roma, who he guided to the Europa Conference League title in 2022.
The Italian club parted ways with him in January this year though after a run of poor form left them ninth in Serie A.
In a recent interview, the Champions League-winning coach said there are still "a couple of players" at United who he wanted to sell during his time in charge.
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