Manchester United plan to appoint Jose Mourinho as the club’s manager on a three-year deal worth £34.85 million, according to reports in Spain.
The Spanish newspaper AS have claimed that the former Chelsea boss is in line to take over at Old Trafford regardless of whether United win the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace or not.
Rumours that Mourinho had agreed to join the club in principle have dogged Van Gaal ever since the Portuguese manager was sacked by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Telegraph Sport reported in April that Mourinho and Woodward had arrived at a verbal understanding that he would take over in time for the 2016/17 campaign.
Despite remaining largely coy over his future since leaving Chelsea, Mourinho has made repeated overtures that he wants a full pre-season with whichever club he manages next.
Manchester United’s prime transfer target this summer – the Everton centre-half John Stones – is also long-term target of Mourinho, and AS report that a source has informed them that the manager will be sufficiently backed in the transfer market should he move to the club.
Louis van Gaal spent £250million in just two years at the club, and Mourinho will expect a similar warchest to land Stones as well as a number of other targets.