United set to appoint Mourinho as new manager

United are expected to appoint Jose Mourinho as our new manager within the next week.

It is believed a deal with the 53-year-old Portuguese was agreed in principle before United's FA Cup final win against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

With United failing to quality for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons under Louis van Gaal, the Old Trafford hierarchy is thought to have decided a change is needed.

Mourinho has been linked with United on a seemingly daily basis since he was sacked by Chelsea in December.

The club plan to announce his arrival early next week after telling Van Gaal, 64, his reign has come to an end after two seasons of his three-year contract.

Van Gaal's grip on his job has seemed increasingly fragile this season, with Mourinho known to covet the task of masterminding a revival at United three years after legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.

The Portuguese has stayed silent throughout the months of speculation when asked about his replacing Van Gaal.

Mourinho is one of the game's most successful- and controversial- bosses, winning three league titles in his two spells at Chelsea, as well as guiding Porto and Inter Milan to Champions League glory in 2004 and 2010 respectively.

He also led Real Madrid to the Spanish La Liga title in 2012, and his arrival would mean a mouthwatering resumption of his rivalry with former Barcelona counterpart Pep Guardiola, who will take over at the mob across town this summer.

Woodward - and United's American owners the Glazers - still hoped Van Gaal would lead the club to a top four finish and up until last month Mourinho's advisers were concerned the club would stay loyal to the Dutch coach.

But for us, as fans, we've not been convinced by Van Gaal's style of play and tactics.

The 49 goals scored this season were the lowest since 1989-90 and since collecting only three points from six games at the end of 2015 - a run including four straight defeats - Van Gaal has been under intense pressure.

The season might have ended with glorious success at Wembley, but the club's priority remains the Premier League and Champions League and it is the failures in both that appear to have sealed Van Gaal's fate.

Having served under Moyes and Van Gaal, initially being lined up as the latter's eventual successor, it remains to be seen what Ryan Giggs would do.

The prospect of continuing under a third United boss in as many years may not appeal and it remains to be seen whether the club can find an alternative role for their most decorated player.